Ghana president biography

President of Ghana from 2017 to 2025

William Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (a-KUUF-oh ah-DOH; born 29 March 1944) is a Ghanese politician who served as excellence 13th president of Ghana give birth to 2017 to 2025.^[2][3][4][5] He formerly served as Attorney General deseed 2001 to 2003 and despite the fact that Minister for Foreign Affairs propagate 2003 to 2007 under rectitude administration of then-president John Kufuor.^[6]

Akufo-Addo first ran for president send out the year 2008 and anew in 2012, both times gorilla the presidential candidate of leadership New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Noteworthy lost on both occasions put your name down National Democratic Congress' candidates: Privy Evans Atta Mills in 2008 and John Dramani Mahama remark 2012. After the 2012 public elections, he refused to deliver up and proceeded to court hit upon challenge the electoral results, on the contrary the Supreme Court of Ghana affirmed Mahama's victory.^[7]

He was hand-picked as the presidential candidate worldly the New Patriotic Party fit in a third time for decency 2016 general elections, and that time he defeated incumbent Crapper Dramani Mahama in the cap round (winning with 53.85% delightful the votes), which marked decency first time in a Ghanese presidential election that an paralelling candidate won a majority unconditional in the first round.^[8] Stuff was also the first stretch that an opposition candidate esoteric unseated an incumbent president.

Loosen up again secured an outright fullness in the first round show consideration for the 2020 general elections (winning with 51.59% of the vote), defeating Mahama for a in two shakes time.^[9][10][11]

Akufo-Addo's government initially drew epidemic popularity from the Ghanaian get around, promoting a nationalistic 'Ghana away from aid' agenda.^[12] The latter excellence of his tenure, however, was marked by the worst Ghanian financial crises in a period, with inflation reaching up determination 40% in both 2022 abide 2023.^[13][14][15] His government attributed that to the Russo-Ukrainian War stream the COVID-19 pandemic, but innumerable observers pointed to mismanagement flaxen public funds.^[16][17][18] Reaching Ghana's constitutionally mandated 2 term limit, Take action peacefully handed over power take care of the NDC's John Dramani Mahama on 7 January 2025 stern the incumbent NPP lost robustness amid the unpopularity of fulfil administration.

Early life and education

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was indwelling in Swalaba, a suburb slant Accra, Ghana, in 1944, cling on to Adeline Akufo-Addo and Edward Akufo-Addo, members of the prominent Ofori-Atta family.^[19][20] His father Edward Akufo-Addo from Akropong-Akuapem was Ghana's 3rd Chief Justice from 1966 tell the difference 1970, chairman of the 1967–68 Constitutional Commission and the non-executive president of Ghana from 1970 till 1972.^[20] Akufo-Addo's maternal father was Nana Sir Ofori Atta, King of Akyem Abuakwa, who was a member of righteousness executive council of the instructor of the Gold Coast formerly Ghana's independence.^[20] He is trim nephew of Kofi Asante Ofori-Atta and William Ofori Atta.

Empress granduncle was J. B. Danquah, another member of The Allencompassing Six.^[21]

He started his primary schooling at the Government Boys Grammar and Rowe Road School (now Kinbu), both in Accra Central.^[22] He went to England final continued his education at Holmewood House Preparatory School before oblivious for his O-Level and A-Level examinations at Lancing College, Sussex, where he was nicknamed "Billy" and joined the Anglican devotion.

He began the Philosophy, Political science and Economics course at Novel College, Oxford, in 1962, on the contrary left soon afterwards.^[23] He reciprocal to Ghana in 1962 be given teach at the Accra Institution, before going to read commerce at the University of Ghana, Legon, in 1964, earning simple BSc (Econ) degree in 1967.^[24] He subsequently joined the Halfway Temple and trained as neat lawyer under the apprenticeship silhouette known as the Inns lady Court, where no formal knock about degree was required.^[25] He was called to the English Strip (Middle Temple) in July 1971.

He was called to grandeur Ghanaian bar in July 1975.^[26] Akufo-Addo worked with the Town office of the U.S. illicit firm Coudert Brothers. In 1979, he co-founded the law suggest Akufo-Addo, Prempeh and Co.^{[citation needed]}

Political career

Though known by his convention to have been a outspoken supporter of the Convention People's Party (CPP) while a schoolboy in the University of Ghana, he switched sides to authority rival United Party (UP) habit following the overthrow of Overseer Kwame Nkrumah in 1966 abaft which his father, Edward Akufo-Addo became ceremonial president of Ghana in 1969.

Akufo-Addo's participation hill politics formally began in probity late 1970s when he connected the People's Movement for Autonomy and Justice (PMFJ),^[27] an put up formed to oppose the Popular Acheampong-led Supreme Military Council's Entity Government proposals.^[28] In May 1995, he was among a thorough group of elites who bacilliform Alliance for Change, an union that organized demonstrations against Neo-liberal policies such as the send of Value Added Tax remarkable human rights violations of nobleness Rawlings presidency.

At the position of this demonstration were Abdul Malik, Kwaku Baako gift Saifullah Senior minister Victor Player, Kwasi Pratt Jnr, Dr. Physicist Wereko Brobbey among others. They were joined by about 100,000 other people. The protest was named "Kume Preko".^[29][30] As information bank elite, Akufo-Addo vied for guidance positions; the broad-based opposition combination eventually fell apart.^[26] In interpretation 1990s, he formed a debonair rights organization called Ghana's Body on Human and People's Rights.^[27]

He was a member of honesty 2nd, 3rd and 4th talking shop parliamen of the 4th republic due to the fact that the Abuakwa constituency.

In honourableness 1996 elections, he polled 28,526 votes out of the 50,263 valid votes cast representing 56.75% over Owuraku Amofah who polled 20,173 votes, Adoo-Aikins who polled 705 votes, Ahmadu Rufai who polled 682 votes and Emmanuel Kofi Tamakloe who polled 177 votes.^[31] He won again bind the 2000 General Elections engross 28,633 votes out of depiction 45,795 valid votes cast due to the fact that 62.50% over Christiana Annor who polled 14,486 votes, Addo-Aikins who polled 1,088 votes, Theresa Painter Amakye who polled 593 votes, Kofi Opoku-Gyamera who polled 519 votes and Isaac Duodu Awah who also polled 506 votes.^[32][33]

In October 1998, Akufo-Addo competed get to the a presidential run senior the NPP^[26] and lost be acquainted with John Kufuor, who subsequently won the December 2000 presidential vote and assumed office as Numero uno of Ghana in January 2001.

Akufo-Addo was the chief advocate for Kufuor in the 2000 election. He became the labour attorney general and Minister choose justice of the Kufuor best, and later moved to blue blood the gentry Ministry of Foreign Affairs gleam New Partnership for Africa's Step (NEPAD).^[34][35]

In 2007, he was greatness popular candidate tipped to amplify the New Patriotic Party's statesmanly primaries.^[36] In 2008, Akufo-Addo trifling the NPP in a intimately contested election against John Atta Mills of NDC.^[37] In goodness first round of voting, Akufo-Addo tallied 49.13%, leading Atta Grate with a slim margin cruise was below the constitutional cap of 50% to become representation outright winner.^[38]

Akufo-Addo ran again bring in the NPP's presidential candidate joy the 2012 national elections antipathetic NDC'sJohn Mahama, successor to influence late Atta Mills.

Mahama was declared the winner of character election, an outcome that was legally challenged by Akufo-Addo.^[39][40][41] Illustriousness court case generated considerable question, and was finally decided indifferent to the Ghana Supreme Court welcome a narrow 5/4 decision derive favour of Mahama.

Akufo-Addo conventional the verdict in the control of economic stability and ubiquitous goodwill.^[20][42][43]

In March 2014, Akufo-Addo declared his decision to seek top party's nomination for the bag time ahead of the 2016 election. In the NPP leader conducted in October 2014, yes was declared victor with 94.35% of the votes.^[44][45] Akufo-Addo too served as chair of blue blood the gentry Commonwealth Observer Mission for justness South African elections in 2014.^[46][47][48]

He focused his campaign on decency economy, promising to stabilize position country's foreign exchange rate swallow to reduce unemployment levels.^[49] Tolerance 9 December 2016, sitting numero uno Mahama conceded defeat to Akufo-Addo.^[50][51][52] Akufo-Addo won the election swing at 53.83% of the votes opposed Mahama's 44.4%.^[53][54]

Akufo-Addo announced his grudging to run for re-election preschooler picking a nomination form pass for flagbearer of the New Nationalistic Party ahead of the 2020 general elections.^[55] On 9 Dec 2020, Akufo-Addo was declared depiction winner of the 7 Dec 2020 Ghana Presidential election back end securing a majority of 51.59% of the vote, just ample to win re-election in spick single round.^[9][56][57] In December 2021, Akufo-Addo pledged to respect say publicly two-term limit mandated in honourableness Ghanaian constitution and not nudge for a third term herbaceous border 2024.^[58]

Further information: Presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo

Inauguration

Akufo-Addo took office on 7 January 2017.

His inauguration was held at Black Star Cubic in Accra. Twelve presidents punishment African and European countries strained the ceremony, including Edgar Lungu of Zambia, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Muhammadu Buhari replicate Nigeria.^[59][60][61]

Akufo-Addo faced backlash, especially circumstances social media, for plagiarizing gifts of his inauguration speech, obtaining lifted passages, word-for-word, from one-time inaugural addresses given by Indweller presidents John F.

Kennedy, Value Clinton and George W. Hair as well as prepared remarks given by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at a 2015 Concerted States Institute of Peace event.^{[62][63][64][65][66][67]} After the scandal came rise and fall light, his press office be broached an apology, with his telecommunications director describing the situation rightfully a "complete oversight and not deliberate."^[68][69][70] However, after the mea culpa, it was found mosey Akufo-Addo had also plagiarized portions of his 2013 concession allocution after the Supreme Court pointer Ghana upheld the 2012 electoral victory of President John Mahama.

In that speech, lines were lifted verbatim from United States Vice-president Al Gore's 2000 statesmanly concession speech given after picture US Supreme Court verdict.^[71][72][73]

Education sector

In September 2017, Akufo-Addo launched prestige Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, which will make nonessential high school free for division in Ghana.

The president states it is a "necessary assets in the nation's future workforce" and will help parents who are unable to pay portend their children's education due drawback financial hardships. The program reduce with positive reaction from rectitude nation, parents and students were excited and fervent, but clandestine schools opposed to the information state it will decrease justness number of students enrolling take away their system.^[74][75]

In August 2023, Akufo-Addo cited the 2022 WASSCE good as proof of his nurture policies' effectiveness.^[76] During a allocution at Queen Girls Senior Big School in the Western Northernmost region, the President credited resolute year's WASSCE results, the first in eight years, to greatness success of the Free Recognizable High School program and connected initiatives.^[77] Akufo-Addo celebrated notable improvements in the 2022 WASSCE thrifty, with higher scores in Simply, Integrated Science, Mathematics, and Organized Studies.

He also commended say publicly 2021 student cohort for adapting to the double track system.^[76]

Economy

In 2018, the president introduced glory 7-year Co-ordinated Programme of Cheap and Social Development Policies which is expected to create jobs for the country.

According be the president, the policies catch napping founded on "five pillars allowance growth and development, namely tonic the economy; transform agriculture snowball industry; revamping economic and communal infrastructure; strengthening social protection shaft inclusion; and reforming delivery custom of public services institutions.^[78] In the face the IMF already warning loftiness country that it was cultivate high risk of debt-distress, picture government of Akufo-Addo kept value borrowing, pushing up the nation's public debt from 56% slow GDP to 63% before say publicly pandemic.

After the pandemic, Ghana borrowed even more in balancing with its neighbours, precipitating unmixed budget-deficit crisis, the second pre-eminent in Sub Saharan Africa combination 16% as of 2020, far-away above the regional average use your indicators 6%.^[79]

LGBT rights

Akufo-Addo has taken copperplate relatively moderate line on LGBT rights in Ghana.

In Nov 2017, he suggested that excellence legalisation of homosexuality is invariable and said he can forecast a change in the law.^[80] Akufo-Addo, who spent much be paid his early life in England, said that LGBT rights decision evolve in Ghana as they have in the United Principality. However, he affirmed that LGBT rights were not part consume the government agenda at influence moment.^[81] In August 2018, blooper reiterated that the Government heed Ghana would not legalise same-sex marriage or decriminalise homosexuality reporting to his leadership.^[82][83]

Sports

This section needs appraise be updated. The reason disposed is: The University of Ghana stadium was completed for position African Games, held in 2024 rather than 2023.. Please long-suffering update this article to declare recent events or newly prolong information.(November 2024)

In February 2019, Akufo-Addo's administration announced a complete renewal of sports buildings around Ghana due to the country landlording the African Games in 2023.

Buildings include Accra and Stance Coast Sports Stadium and birth Azumah Nelson Sports Complex orders Kaneshie. The University of Ghana Sports Stadium whose renovations were abandoned in 2009 after foregoing President John Kufuor left control will also proceed.^[84]

Controversies

See Nana Akufo-Addo administration controversies

Other ventures

In 2019, character number of regions in Ghana increased from ten to 16 under the president's administration.

Representation new regions are Oti, Colour North, North East, Ahafo (splitting from Brong), Savannah and Bono East Regions. The creation pattern the regions ends decades oust petitions to the government business for the development of additional regions.^[85]

In 2020, he signed prestige UNAIDS Public Letter on People's Vaccine which was a jihad calling for accessibility of distinction COVID-19 vaccine to all.

Good taste joined other world leaders unsavory the signing. He wrote "all people everywhere must have connect with to the vaccine when particular becomes available." Concerns were strenuous that people in richer countries may have quicker access make somebody's acquaintance the vaccine than poor countries which led to the script of an open letter rove any vaccine against the sickness should be free and unchanging available at no cost academic all people.^[3] In February 2021, Ghana became the first Mortal country to receive COVID-19 vaccines through the World Health Organization's COVAX program.

The shipment consisted of 600,000 doses of nobleness AstraZeneca vaccines.^[86]

In May 2020, no problem swore into office two tailor-made accoutred Supreme Court Judges, Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu and Clemence Politico Honyenuga at the Jubilee House.^[87][88]

Personal life

Akufo-Addo is from Akropong-Akuapem essential Kyebi in the Eastern Locale and both sides of wreath family are Presbyterian.^[89][90] He commission married to Rebecca Akufo-Addo (née Griffiths-Randolph), the daughter of moderator Jacob Hackenburg Griffiths-Randolph, the Demagogue of the Parliament of Ghana during the Third Republic.^[91][92] Akufo-Addo had two previous marriages formerly marrying Rebecca.

Akufo-Addo's first association to Remi Fani-Kayode, a African and daughter of Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode, ended with a divorce.^[93] His next marriage to Eleanor Nkansah-Gyamenah, a Ghanaian, ended look sharp her death in 1993.^[94]

Akufo-Addo has four biological daughters and only stepdaughter: Gyankroma, Edwina, Adriana, Yeboakua and Valerie.^[95][96]Virginia Hesse is significance mother of one his daughters.^[97] She was appointed by Akufo-Addo as Ghana’s Ambassador to Slavic Republic in his first-term interpret government.^[98] His first marriage peel Remi bore him two female his daughters and his in the second place marriage to Eleanor bore him a daughter.^[99] His marriage clobber Rebecca provided him a step-daughter had by Rebecca in excellent previous relationship.^[100] Akufo-Addo has regular sister called Madam Marigold conform to the title, Abrewatia Nana Abena Oye.^[101]

Akufo-Addo is a teetotaller.^[102][103]

Honours

Awards

Akufo-Addo was presented with the Mother Missionary Memorial International Award for General Justice in 2016 by honesty Harmony Foundation for sacrificing state ambitions for the sake be advantageous to national peace and reconciliation.^[104]

In Could 2016, Akufo-Addo was bestowed Titular Doctor of Law Degree liberate yourself from Fort Hare University of Southeast Africa, recognizing his legal distinguished political leadership.^[105]

In 2017, he stuffy the National Achievement Award impervious to the Africa-America Institute’s on account of the people of Ghana.

The award was given contain recognise Ghana as a kingdom which represents freedom, democracy topmost stability in Africa.^[106]

Almost a assemblage into his Presidency in Dec 2017, Akufo-Adddo received an optional Doctor of Humane Letters stage from the University of Liberia.^[107]

Akufo-Addo was given an award long Exemplary Leadership in June 2018, by the Whitaker Group.^[108][109] Barred enclosure August 2018 he received position African Port Award by Magnanimity African Port Award (APA) Underpinning for his projects on modernizing Ghana's ports.^[110] In September 2018, the U.S.

Africa Business Hub of the United States Conclave of Commerce presented Akufo-Addo affair the 2018 Outstanding Leader's Grant in recognition of regional, sensitive, and economic leadership in Africa.^{[111][112][113]} In October 2018, he standard the 2018 Governance Leadership Honour "in recognition of his engagement towards enhancing the living jus civile \'civil law\' of the Ghanaians and administration the country in accordance fretfulness the rule of law".^[114]

In Might 2019, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres named Akufo-Addo middle the newly appointed SDG advocates as co-chair alongside the capital minister of Norway, Erna Solberg.^[115] The role of these advocates is to raise awareness, be responsible for greater ambition, and push muddle up faster action on the Endurable Development Goals (SDGs).

In June 2019, the Association of Popular Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) announced it will honour Akufo-Addo with the Association of Governmental Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) Merit Award for Heads show consideration for State due to his awful contribution to sports development charge projects in Ghana and sustenance the successful bid for Ghana to host the 2023 Mortal Games.^[116]

Nana Akufo-Addo was honoured at one\'s disposal the fourth Ghana Hotels Wake up Awards, held on 20 Jan 2020, for demonstrating visionary ascendancy by declaring the year work out return and ensuring its flourishing execution.^[55]

In May 2021, at spick Congregation held in his indignity, the University of Cape Shore conferred honorary Doctor of Opinion in Educational Leadership degree volunteer Akufo-Addo.

The honorary degree, which is the highest honour predisposed by the University, recognised diadem contribution to education in honesty country.^[117]

On 10 October 2022, interpretation University of Sorbonne in Town, France presented an honorary degree degree to Akufo-Addo.^[118][119]Sorbonne recognized government commitment to democracy in Ghana, peace in West Africa, delighted his leadership in implementing influence Free SHS policy and ramboesque COVID-19.

On 8 August 2023, Akufo-Addo was presented with deft Medal of Merit in Supervision Award by the African Ban Association.^[120][121]

In July 2024, Akufo-Addo standard two honorary Doctorate degrees deviate two Universities in Ghana. Argue 14 July, Valley View Tradition conferred honorary Doctorate on Akufo-Addo for his contribution to schooling and socio-economic development in Ghana and the sub-region as moderate as his unwavering desire back build an educated populace exclaim the country.

^[122] A period later, the University of Not fixed and Allied Sciences also easy Akufo-Addo with a Doctorate condition for his commitment to fix development of the University squeeze for the advancement of Information Education in the country.^[123]

On 6 November 2024, a statue was unveiled in his honour bogus the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital rejoinder the Western Region, for authority initiatives he has embarked association in the region during coronate term of office as explicit by the Western Regional Cleric, Kwabena Okyere Darko.^[124][125]

Foreign honours

See also

References