By Thelma Tackie
Peace in Bawku dominated talks between President Akufo-Addo and the Bawku Naaba, Asigri Abugrago Azoka during an interaction at the seat of government in January.
Winners of the 2021 National Science and Maths Quiz, Prempeh College, were also at the Jubilee House to present their trophy to President Akufo-Addo.
President Akufo–Addo cut sod for work on the first Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM Academy in Accra on Wednesday 12th January. Christened “The Accra Academy”, the 32 Million-Cedi institution is expected to be complete within 24 months.
In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Akufo-Addo delivered his second report to the AU on Sunday, 6th February 2022, in his capacity as AU Champion for Financial Institutions. He called on member States to work to reform the global financial architecture, and strengthen the Union’s financial institutions.
Back home, when he addressed the maiden edition of the National Labour Conference at Kwahu-Nkwatia in the Eastern Region, President, Akufo Addo announced plans by the government to cut down budgetary allocation to Ministries, departments and other government agencies by 20 percent this year, in a bid to ensure fiscal consolidation.
President Akufo-Addo launched the 2022 Green Ghana day in Accra on Tuesday, 1st March, with a call on all to support the planting of 20 million trees across the country.
Students, who excelled during the 2021 Basic Education Certificate Examination, BECE on Wednesday received an ayekoo applause from President Akufo-Addo at the President’s Independence Day awards ceremony in Accra.
On Sunday 6th March, Ghana celebrated her 65th birthday, marking over six decades since the country walked free from colonial rule. At the national Independence parade held in Cape Coast, President Akufo-Addo encouraged Ghanaians to be optimistic and not to lose hope in the current economic situation.
The Prime Minister of Barbados, Madam Mia Amor Mottley, was full of praise for Ghana for always showing the way as a beacon of hope on the continent.
President Akufo-Addo announced the re-opening of all land and sea borders, two years after closure at the end of March. From Monday, March 28, the wearing of nose masks was no longer mandatory but handwashing and social distancing still remained in force. He also announced an end to testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers at the Kotoka International Airport. This was during his 28th address to the nation on measures to stop the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President hosted the Black Stars and GFA officials at the Jubilee House at the end of March to officially congratulate the team for qualifying to the world cup in Qatar and promised them a special package.
The Electronic Transaction levy became a law this year- following the assent of President Akufo-Addo to the bill on Thursday, 31st March, 2022. The E-levy, which was initially pegged at 1.75 percent, was amended to 1.5 percent by parliament.
President Akufo-Addo signed a book of condolence at Kenya’s Embassy in Accra for former President Mwai Kibaki who passed away in April. He described him as a distinguished leader and a Statesman of high standards.
Workers were celebrated on Sunday May 1, May Day. The message to the President was to initiate measures to remove all taxes on petroleum products to cushion Ghanaians since the current cost of living is high but President Akufo-Addo, said this was not sustainable and would dent workers’ wages badly.
One fine Friday morning in June, the President, Nana Akufo-Addo symbolically planted the first tree at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra to set in motion Ghana’s ambitious plan to plant 20 million trees across the country.
Ghana’s contingent to the 2022 Skills Competition in Swakopmund, Namibia returned home with two Gold and two Silver Medals which they presented to President Akufo Addo in Accra.
Also, President Akufo-Addo, formally opened the Edward Akufo-Addo Public Library at Frafraha in the Adentan Municipality in the Greater Accra Region this year. The library, named after his father, has over 270-thousand books in a variety of categories – I.T Corner, Children’s Library and 100-seating capacity conference hall among others.
The President Nana Akufo-Addo and the presidents of Rwanda and Senegal cut the sod for work to start on a vaccine manufacturing plant in Kigali during the year under review.
On a Thursday, July 1, President Akufo-Addo was at the 40th anniversary of the murder of three Justices of the High Court, Justice Fred Poku Sarkodie, Justice Cecilia Koranteng-Addow and Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong, which was marked in Accra at a solemn service at the Christ the King Parish.
Accra hosted the 61st ordinary session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government as President Akufo-Addo ended his two year-tenure as the chair of ECOWAS in July. He was succeeded by the President of Guinea Bissau, Mr. Umaro Sissoco Embalo.
President Akufo Addo cut the sod for the five hundred-million-euro (€500 million) Manso-Huni Valley section of the Western Railway which officially started in July. He described it as the highest single investment for rail development post Ghana’s independence. He said the Western Railway Line is on course, with the twenty-two (22) kilometre section of the line from Kojokrom to Manso proceeding steadily, and scheduled for completion before the end of 2022.
A new public entity christened Office of the Registrar of Companies was outdoored by President Akufo-Addo in Accra in July. With this milestone, the ORC is expected to make business operations easier and improve the quality of services for businesses. The idea is to make Ghana a prime destination for investment.
On Sunday July 24, 2022, President Akufo-Addo inaugurated the renovated Asomdwee Park, the final resting place of the late President Prof John Evans Atta Mills near Osu Castle in Accra. Rehabilitation became necessary upon a request from the Atta Mills Institute to the government due to its deterioration. Sunday July 24 was ten years since late president Mills died. Wreaths were laid and a memorial service held in his memory.
After weeks of debate on her absence from Parliament and calls for her to be sacked, the President Nana Akufo Addo revoked the appointment of Madam Adwoa Safo, MP for Dome Kwabenya, as Minister for the Gender Ministry on Thursday July 28, 2022. A few days later, President Akufo-Addo nominated the Deputy Gender Minister Madam Lariba Zuweira Abudu and MP for Walewale as the substantive Minister for the sector, with the MP for Kwabre East Madam Francisca Oteng Mensah as her Deputy.
On Founders’ day on 4th August 2022, President Akufo-Addo announced the conferment of national awards on Ghanaians, companies and religious bodies for their contributions towards the fight against Covid-19. The President also paid glowing tribute to Ghana’s forebears, who championed the cause of independence and all who have in diverse ways helped in making Ghana what it is today.
Also in August, the Ghana Police Service received 1,500 motorcycles from President Akufo-Addo to aid their activities. At the Police headquarters in Accra, the President assured them that by the close of next year, 3,500 more motorcycles will be procured for the men in uniform to reach every community in the country.
President Akufo-Addo on Thursday congratulated Kenya’s newly-elected President William Ruto, on his victory in the presidential elections of 9th August 2022.
In September, the President held a closed-door meeting with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, on the sidelines of the Africa Adaptation Summit, in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The President said a deal between Ghana and the IMF should be reached and finalized before the end of the year.
Days later, President Akufo Addo joined other leaders and the entire world to extend condolences to King Charles and the British royal family and the UK following the death of the much beloved Queen Elizabeth II saying that she left an indelible mark on the world. He signed the Book of Condolence at the UK’s High Commission in Accra.
He later attended the state funeral at Westminster which was broadcast to millions around the world.
In his address at the 77th U.N. General Assembly in New York, President Akufo Addo spoke about making Africa self-sufficient, the threat of terrorism on the continent and the prospects of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area to drive economic transformation. President Akufo Addo also paid glowing tribute to Ghana’s first President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah on the celebration of his 113th birthday.
As the galamsey situation grew more serious despite measures by the government and its partners to intervene, the President met with traditional authorities in Kumasi to find solutions. He also met Regional Ministers and MMDCE’s.
While the President was on a visit to the French capital, Paris, Accra was named as UNESCO’s World Book Capital for 2023 by the Executive Board of UNESCO, a UN agency. President Akufo-Addo described the making of Accra part of the prestigious World Book Cities Network as a vote of confidence by UNESCO for the giant strides being made by Ghana in developing her book and creative arts industry.
Reminiscent of the covid era, President Akufo Addo addressed the nation on Sunday, 30th October, he outlined some key decisions that will set the nation on the path to recovery amid high cost of living phase, soaring food prices, rising cost of fuel, and depreciation of the cedi. The President admitted Ghana’s economy is in Crisis but called on Ghanaians to turn the economic downturn to opportunities.
On Monday, November14 2022, the President, terminated the appointment of the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Charles Adu Boahen, with immediate effect after being made aware of the allegations levelled against the Minister in an Anas Aremeyaw Anas exposé dubbed, “Galamsey Economy”, where he is alleged to have asked for a so-called appearance fee in order to arrange a meeting with the Vice President. The President referred the matter to the Office of the Special Prosecutor for further investigations.
Heads of State and Governments of the seven West African countries that make up the Accra Initiative met in Accra on Tuesday November 22, 2022 to deliberate on major security challenges confronting the sub region and the way forward in tackling them. The Accra Initiative was formed in September 2017 to join forces against jihadists attacks confronting coastal and Sahelian states in West Africa.
President Akufo-Addo also met European Council President, Mr. Charles Michel in November with the focus on how to prevent the spillover of terrorism from the Sahel region.
CONFERENCES AND FORUMS
A president’s itinerary is always packed with invitations to speak at various conferences, forums and award ceremonies across the country. Nana Akufo Addo honoured many of such engagements this year.
FOREIGN TRAVELS
Throughout the year, the President travelled to a number of territories to participate in conferences and other events, adding Ghana’s voice to global issues and wooing investors to the country.
PRESIDENT’S TOUR OF VARIOUS REGIONS
A direct way to seek views of the ordinary Ghanaian on various government projects and services, is to meet people face to face and hear the opinions directly from the people.
In this regard, President Akufo Addo hit the mostly dusty roads criss-crossing the country to meet the Ghanaian near their doorsteps. A quick recap of the President’s tour of the various regions, inspecting progress of work on various projects and inaugurating completed ones.
