– US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AFRICAN AFFAIRS

The 2012 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Thursday interacted with the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Johnnie Carson, at the US State Department, at 4pm.

In his opening remarks Ambassador Carson said he was pleased to meet Nana Akufo-Addo again. He recalled Nana Akufo-Addo’s time as Foreign Minister and paid tribute to him for the important role he played in the first compact of the Millennium Challenge Account. Ambassador Carson said Ghana remains a beacon in Africa for the peaceful transfer of power from one government to another.

Nana Akufo-Addo in his remarks thanked the US government for helping to consolidate democracy in Ghana and Africa. He said he was in the US to meet potential investors and was pleased with the response so far.

Nana Akufo-Addo reiterated that there was a firm consensus among Ghanaians on multiparty democracy as their form of government. He expressed concern, however, about people being intimidated and the tension being generated around the ongoing biometric registration exercise.

Nana Akufo-Addo also spoke about his ideas on how Ghana should use her oil resources to structurally transform the Ghanaian economy, using the Norwegian model as a guide.

The two men also discussed issues surrounding the forthcoming general elections. Ambassador Johnnie Carson said that Ghana has an opportunity to reaffirm her leadership position in Africa by conducting a free, fair and transparent electoral process, which the US is committed to support. He urged the building of institutions and not people to strengthen Democracy in Ghana. He thanked Nana Akufo-Addo for his message, which he said resonated in the US and wished him well in the elections.

Nana Akufo-Addo concluded by saying that he expected a decent campaign and as long as the process is fair, whoever wins the elections will have the support of all Ghanaians.

Nana Akufo-Addo’s delegation to the meeting included Yaw Osafo Maafo, Charles Owiredu and Kwaku Agyei Yeboah NPP USA Chairman.