By Bright Ntramah
The Forbes Africa Magazine has presented “the African of the Year award to President Akufo-Addo at a brief ceremony at the Jubilee House. The award is in recognition of the visionary leadership and Economic Policies of the President. President Akufo-Addo was recently adjudged ‘African of the Year, 2021’ by Forbes Africa magazine.
The award, which is in its fourth year, recognises Africans who have made an impact on the continent and the world stage. The latest issue of the magazine acknowledged President Akufo-Addo’s effort in repositioning the country in the global marketplace as one reliant on its own resources and strengths.
The West Africa Executive Director of the Magazine, Frederic Van de Vyver said President Akufo Addo was chosen for his economic policies like Ghana Beyond Aid, One District, One Factory as well as measures taken to mitigate the effects of Covid-19.
”The African of the Year Trophy that we have here with us, basically we took the decision based on your visionary leadership specially based on economic policies, just to mention a few in a nutshell Ghana beyond aid how to develop Ghana, adding value to the industry etc…..I was here when Covid started I got locked down here I usually based in Legos, but I got locked down here for six months every week we watched your speech, I call them the Fellow Ghanaian Speech, that’s why I actually extremely gave a lot of clarity about the decisions making a meaning to me during the pandemic, policies like Beyond The Return …… which is long term policies to develop the tourism sector makes Ghana the trade capital for Africa”
”Twitter came here for a reason and built the Headquarters in Ghana.The Health Care Sector you want to make Ghana help with the Agenda 111. The African of the Year Trophy, that we have here with us, basically we took the decision based on your Visionary Leadership, specially based on economic policies, just to mention a few in a nutshell. The same for education”.
President Akufo-Addo dedicated the Award to the people of Ghana and pledged not to disappoint.
”I’m extremely honoured, very flattered by this award and the way you presented it shows that you’ve been looking at what we have been doing here in Ghana, for me that’s the most comforting aspect because, a lot of the time when you are in the midst of doing things you don’t know to what extent other people are taking notes of what you are doing and it appears that you have a very good grasp of all the various things we are trying to do to develop our country I have a maximum of eight years to try and make an impact on this country so it’s been something that is been very important aspiration for me to get things as many things on the ground as possible but I’m happy that it produces results basically it’s the results of the work of my government not just myself all the various people who have been assisting me and also about the population the Ghanaian people who have made these choices and have been very supportive of the work that I do so I’m looking at this prize or recommendation as one for Ghana one for my government, and lastly for myself I have to confess it’s something overwhelming I appreciate it very much on behalf of all this people on behalf of people of Ghana on behalf of my government and myself I want to say a very big thank you to you and the members of your board for making this selection”, President Akufo said.
