By Stephen Asante
Accra, Jan. 03, GNA – President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed a positive outlook on Ghana’s development trends as he prepares to leave office after completing his eight-year tenure.
“I leave behind a Ghana that is working.
“I am happy to hand over a Ghana that is safe, secure, united and firmly rooted in her attachment to democratic principles and respect for the rule of law—a nation that continues to shine as a beacon of peace and stability in an often-troubled Africa and an uncertain world,” he said in his final State of the Nation’s Address (SONA), in Accra.
In reflecting on his stewardship, the outgoing President highlighted the progress made under his administration across Ghana’s development agenda.
His message critically assessed the state of the economy, agriculture, education, infrastructure, health, tourism, youth development, and entrepreneurship.
He also acknowledged some of the prevailing challenges, including the long-standing Bawku conflict, while emphasizing the efforts made to address them during his tenure.
“Mr. Speaker, as I take my final bow, I do so in the certain knowledge that our nation will grow from strength to strength, and that freedom and justice has taken hold forever in our body politic,” the President told the Parliament.
On agriculture, he noted that the sector remained the backbone of the economy, and that investments had been transformative.
“Through the distribution of over 2.7 million bags of fertilizers and improved seedlings, we have increased crop yields and enhanced food security.
“For example, maize production increased by one hundred and ten per cent, rice by forty-eight per cent, and soybean by one hundred and fifty per cent between 2017 and 2023,” he stated.
The President highlighted the establishment of 140 agricultural mechanization centers and the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes as key achievements that modernized farming practices in Ghana.
These initiatives, he noted, had also reduced the country’s dependence on rain-fed agriculture.
“The net effect of these policies is that our agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate rose significantly from two-point seven per cent in 2016 to an average of five-point-seven per cent in 2023.
President Akufo-Addo pointed out that the cocoa sector had seen a remarkable improvement, with productivity increasing from an average of 450 kilogrammes per hectare to 800 kilogrammes per hectare, positioning Ghana as a leader in sustainable cocoa production.
On housing, the President announced that 1,072 affordable homes had been completed, with plans for an additional 800 homes currently underway in Kpone, Greater Accra Region.
“We have also established the National Homeownership Fund, which is delivering five hundred and thirty-four homes in Tema Community Twenty-Two,” he noted, adding that some 100one thousand homes to the security services had also been delivered.
Additionally, the Government is delivering six hundred homes for public servants through the Bungalow Redevelopment Programme.
The President emphasized that the flagship educational policy, “Free Senior High School (SHS),” had enabled 5.7 million Ghanaian youth to access second-cycle education.
Additionally, the construction and rehabilitation of over 12,000 kilometers of roads had improved connectivity and reduced travel times.
He also pointed out that the Auditor-General’s report for 2023 revealed a reduction of 5.2 billion Cedis in financial irregularities, a 32 per cent drop from the previous year.
Furthermore, the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Act of 2020 had elevated corruption from a misdemeanor to a felony, imposing harsher penalties of 12 to 25 years of imprisonment.
“We also enacted key laws such as the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Revenue Administration (Amendment) Act, and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, all of which have strengthened our institutional framework to combat corruption and ensure accountability,” the President stated.
He was emphatic that Ghana’s economy was not broke, saying the assertion by the incoming Mahama Administration that the country was facing serious economic crisis was far from the truth.
“Economic growth has returned to the pre-COVID trajectory, with an impressive growth rate, rising from 4.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2024, seven per cent in the second quarter and 7.2 per cent in the third quarter,” he affirmed.
He projected that this year’s growth rate would be 6.3 per cent, significantly higher than the 3.4 per cent his administration inherited in 2017.
“In much the same way, the trade balance has improved and stands at a surplus of 3.85 billion US dollars, compared with a deficit of 1.8 billion US dollars in 2016.
GNA