President Nana Akufo-Addo – ‘The Ghanaian Visionary’
− historic State Visit for June 10-12
By Felecia Valenzuela
DPI, Guyana, Friday, June 7, 2019
In the next few days, history will be made when President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, visits this country. It is the first time a sitting Ghanaian leader will visit Guyana.
The West African leader’s two-day visit will commence on Monday, June 10.
President Akufo-Addo was born on March 29, 1944, in Accra, Ghana to a prominent Ghanaian royal and political family. His father, Edward Akufo-Addo was Ghana’s third Chief Justice from 1966 to 1970, Chairman of the 1967-68 Constitutional Commission and the non-executive President of Ghana from 1970 to 1972. His maternal grandfather was Nana Sir Ofori Atta, King of Akyem Abuakwa.
The 75-year-old Ghanaian leader is married to Rebecca Akufo-Addo and has three daughters.
He attended the University of Ghana between 1964–1967 before heading to London to further his education.
The African leader is passionate about the development of his nation; to create a Ghana Beyond aid, he believes that this requires a deliberate, qualitative change.
“In all aspects of our lives; especially, in the structure of our economy, the nature of our infrastructure, the education of our young people and acquisition of skills, and, above all, in our attitudes and holding firm to the values that define us,” President Akufo-Addo stated when he delivered the address at his country’s 61st Independence Day Celebration, in March 2018.
His vision for Ghana is that of an optimistic, confident and prosperous nation, with a strong and thriving democracy in which mutual trust and economic opportunities exist for all, irrespective of their backgrounds.
The Ghanaian leader previously served as Attorney General from 2001 to 2003 and as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2007 under the John Kufuor-led administration.
In 2016, President Akufo-Addo was presented with the Mother Theresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice by the Harmony Foundation for sacrificing political ambitions for the sake of national peace and reconciliation.
He was given an award for Exemplary Leadership in June 2018 by the Whitaker Group, also in the same year, the U.S. Africa Business Centre of the United States Chamber of Commerce presented him with the 2018 Outstanding Leader’s Award in recognition of regional, diplomatic, and economical leadership in Africa.
Though this is his first visit to Guyana, this is not his first time meeting President David Granger. The two Heads of State met during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting last year, and again this year, during a visit to Cuba. It was at this meeting that President Granger invited President Akufo-Addo to visit Guyana.
President Granger has expressed confidence that this visit would result in practical measures aimed at enhancing relations and cooperation between the two states.
Guyana and Ghana established diplomatic relations on May 14, 1979.
Among the areas likely to be discussed by the leaders is cooperation in areas of oil and gas, strengthening of diplomatic relations, air-connectivity and abolition of visa requirements.
Images: http://www.ghana.gov.gh/