General News of Tuesday, 7 March 2023
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
The national parade to mark Ghans@66 was held at Adaklu, a community a few metres away from the capital town of the Volta Region, Ho, despite calls by some leading Ghanaians, including the immediate past Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, and former President John Dramani Mahama, for the celebration to be scrapped.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo delivered an empowering speech at the Independence Day Celebration, which was on the theme: “Our Unity, Our Purpose, Our Purpose”.
The president, among many other things, urged Ghanaians to come together in these difficult moments to help restore the fortunes of the country.
Here are highlights of Akufo-Addo's speech:
I inherited a severely-challenged economy but turned things around – Akufo-Addo:
In his speech at the Ghana @ 66 national parade at Adaklu, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said that when he assumed office on January 7, 2017, he inherited a severely-challenged economy, whose rate of growth at the time was the lowest in over two decades.
But, he said, by dint of hard work, prudence, and creativity, the government has managed to turn things around, creating an economy that, for the years 2017, 2018, and 2019, the years before the onset of COVID-19, was amongst the fastest growing economies not only in Africa, but also in the world, recording an annual Gross Domestic Growth (GDP) growth rate of seven percent (7%).
“We were the best place to do business in West Africa, and, in 2021, we were described as the most attractive destination for investment in West Africa, ”he said
I will restore Ghana's economy within 22 months - Akufo-Addo vows
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo vowed to restore Ghana's ailing economy in the next 22 months which is before his tenure ends.
According to him, there was rapid economic growth in the country before the COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine war emerged hence the reason the country is facing the current economic challenges.
He however assured that he is determined to change things within the limited time in office.
“The next 22 months of my mandate will be focused on restoring the economy we had before COVID-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the period of rapid growth. It is a solemn pledge I am making to you my fellow Ghanaians, and one which I am determined to fulfil," he said.
Let's protect our unity - President Akufo-Addo to Ghanaians
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his speech also called on Ghanaians to continue to take actions that unite and not divide the nation.
The president stated that the unity that Ghanaians have is the greatest achievement of Ghana since independence.
“We cannot allow those who seek to divide us along the lines of ethnicity or religion to succeed. Let us deepen the cohesion that exists amongst us, and let us wear, with pride, the badge of being called Ghanaian.
“There is no better homage we can pay to the memories of all those who fought to free us from the shackles of colonialism and imperialism than to dedicate this 66th independence anniversary to working even harder for the unity, strength and purpose of our dear Ghana.
“It did not matter where they came from; it did not matter which tribe they belonged to; it did not matter which religious persuasion they subscribed to; and their standing in society certainly did not matter. They recognised the fact that colonialism did not inure to our nation's collective benefit, and they were determined to end it. And, indeed, they did,” he said