President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was forced to ‘retract’ a statement he made at the launch of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), a nationwide initiative to improve road conditions in all 275 constituencies.

The president, as he was touting the performance of his government in the road sector, mistakenly mentioned former President John Dramani Mahama instead of his vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

“We've witnessed an extraordinary expansion and improvement in our road network throughout the country. From 2009 to 2016, that is the Mills-Mahama era, our nation completed 4,636 roads and five interchanges and overpasses. However, since January 2017 till date, i.e. the Akufo-Addo-Mahama era,” he said.

The president tried correcting his mistake, but before then many in the audience reacted with an “Eiiii”.

The president could be seen covering his mouth, after which he said:

“That’s unforgivable. That’s unforgivable. I hope you will allow me to withdraw that statement; The Akufo-Addo-Bawumia era.”

About the DRIP:

Led by the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, DRIP will address the Ministry of National Security's concerns about poor road conditions being a significant national security threat.

At a colourful ceremony at Independence Square on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, President Akufo-Addo commissioned 2,240 units of state-of-the-art road equipment, marking a major boost to the country's road infrastructure.

The equipment included a diverse fleet of trucks and equipment, including water tankers, backhoes, motor graders, rollers, tipper trucks, concrete mixers, and bulldozers.

The equipment were acquired through a Ghana-China collaboration and was distributed to all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

President Akufo-Addo emphasized his government’s commitment to decentralising development and transforming road networks across Ghana while acknowledging the progress made and the need for more to be done.

President Akufo-Addo thanked China for their partnership, aiming to improve Ghanaians’ lives. He assured the nation that his government remains dedicated to improving road infrastructure, promoting connectivity, and driving prosperity.

Watch Akufo-Addo’s reaction in the video below:

District Road Infrastructure Program: Akufo-Addo mistakenly called his government the "Akufo-Addo and Mahama government" instead of "Akufo-Addo and Bawumia.#ElectionHQ pic.twitter.com/mNnlLnUGGf

— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) July 31, 2024