Nana Akufo-Addo

==Political career==
Though known by his friends to have been a vocal supporter of the [[Convention People's Party]] (CPP) while a student in the [[University of Ghana]], he switched sides to the rival UP tradition following the overthrow of President Nkrumah in 1966 after which his father, Edward Akufo-Addo became ceremonial president of Ghana in 1969. Akufo-Addo's participation in politics formally began in the late 1970s when he joined the People's Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ),<ref name="daily graphic">{{cite news |author-link = Mike Oquaye Jnr |last=Oquaye |first=Mike |date=24 December 2008 |title=Why Nana Akufo-Addo Should be Elected President |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eNxmAAAAcAAJ&q=People%E2%80%99s+Movement+for+Freedom+and+Justice+nana+akufo&pg=PA16 |newspaper=Daily Graphic |location=Ghana |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209231303/https://books.google.com/books?id=eNxmAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16&dq=People%E2%80%99s+Movement+for+Freedom+and+Justice+nana+akufo&source=bl&ots=lcJImISuF9&sig=jrEiP_SASaSkVrztr6AejXSg8ZM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwju2J2k7enQAhUhhlQKHQScBUgQ6AEIPjAH#v=onepage&q=People%E2%80%99s%20Movement%20for%20Freedom%20and%20Justice%20nana%20akufo&f=false |archive-date=9 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> an organization formed to oppose the General [[Ignatius Kutu Acheampong|Acheampong]]-led Supreme Military Council's Union Government proposals.<ref name="ansah">{{cite book |last=Owusu-Ansah |first=David |date=2014 |title=Historical Dictionaries of Africa : Historical Dictionary of Ghana (4) |publisher= Rowman & Littlefield Publishers }}</ref> In May 1995, he was among a broad group of elites who formed Alliance for Change, an alliance that organized demonstrations against Neo-liberal policies such as the introduction of [[Value Added Tax]] and human rights violations of the [[Jerry Rawlings|Rawlings]] presidency. The forefront of this demonstration were himself, Abdul Malik, [[Kweku Baako Jnr|Kwaku Baako]] and Saifullah Senior minister [[Victor Newman (politician)|Victor Newman]], [[Kwesi Pratt Jnr|Kwasi Pratt Jnr]], Dr. Charles Wreko Brobbey among others. They were joined by about 100,000 other people. The protest was named "[[Kume Preko|Kumepreko]]".<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Ayelazuno |first=Jasper |year=2011 |title=Neo-liberalism and Resistance in Ghana: Understanding the Political Agency of the Subalterns in Social-historical Context |chapter= 7 |publisher=York University }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2020 |title=Kumepreko @25: Akufo Addo, Kweku Baako others exchange elbow bump greetings |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Kumepreko-25-Akufo-Addo-Kweku-Baako-others-exchange-elbow-bump-greetings-956230 |access-date=20 May 2020 |website=ghanaweb. |language=en}}</ref> As an elite, he vied for leadership positions, the broad-based opposition alliance eventually fell apart.<ref name="Ivor"/> In the 1990s, he formed a civil rights organization called Ghana's Committee on Human and People's Rights.<ref name="daily graphic"/>

He was a member of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th parliament of the 4th republic representing the [[Abuakwa Ashanti|Abuakwa]] Constituency.

in the 1996 elections, he polled 28,526 votes out of the 50,263 valid votes cast representing 56.75% over [[Owuraku Amofah|Owuraku Amofa]] who polled 20,173 votes, Adoo-Aikins who polled 705 votes, Ahmadu Rufai who polled 682 votes and Emmanuel Kofi Tamakloe who polled 177 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=FM|first=Peace|title=Ghana Election 1996 Results - Abuakwa Constituency|url=http://ghanaelections.peacefmonline.com/pages/1996/eastern/241/index.php|access-date=6 October 2020|website=Ghana Elections - Peace FM}}</ref> He won again in the 2000 General Elections with 28,633 votes out of the 45,795 valid votes cast representing 62.50% over Christiana Annor who polled 14,486 votes, Addo-Aikins who polled 1.088 votes, Theresa Stella Amakye who polled 593 votes, Kofi Opoku-Gyamera who polled 519 votes and Isaac Duodu Awah who also polled 506 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=FM|first=Peace|title=Ghana Election 2000 Results - Abuakwa Constituency|url=http://ghanaelections.peacefmonline.com/pages/2000/eastern/241/index.php|access-date=6 October 2020|website=Ghana Elections - Peace FM}}</ref>

===Presidential bids===
In October 1998, Akufo-Addo competed for the a presidential run of the [[New Patriotic Party|NPP]]<ref name="Ivor"/> and lost to [[John Kufuor]], who subsequently won the December 2000 presidential election and assumed office as President of Ghana in January 2001. Akufo-Addo was the chief campaigner for Kufuor in the 2000 election. He became the first attorney general and Minister for justice of the Kufuor era, and later moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and [[New Partnership for Africa's Development]] (NEPAD).<ref>{{cite news|title=Africa will continue to dominate Ghana's foreign policy – Akufo-Addo|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Africa-will-continue-to-dominate-Ghana-s-foreign-policy-Akufo-Addo-83023|access-date=7 January 2017|publisher=ghanaweb|date=4 June 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108190259/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Africa-will-continue-to-dominate-Ghana-s-foreign-policy-Akufo-Addo-83023|archive-date=8 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=26 July 2006 |title=Ghana: NPP Presidential Race for Election 2008 |publisher=allafrica |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200607261059.html |access-date=7 January 2017}}</ref>

In 2007, he was the popular candidate tipped to win [[New Patriotic Party]]'s presidential primaries.<ref>{{cite news|last=Samin|first=Zam R.|date=30 October 2007|title=Akufo-Addo Gets Another Boost|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200710300532.html|newspaper=The Ghanaian Chronicle|publisher=AllAfrica|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080101201026/http://allafrica.com/stories/200710300532.html|archive-date=1 January 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, Akufo-Addo represented NPP in a closely [[2008 Ghanaian general election|contested election]] against [[John Atta Mills]] of NDC.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Brian |date=5 December 2008 |title=Ghana: Voters Head for Polls in Tight Race |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200812050207.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220124724/http://allafrica.com/stories/200812050207.html |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the first round of voting, Akufo-Addo tallied 49.13%, leading Atta Mills with a slim margin that was below the constitutional threshold of 50% to become the outright winner.<ref name="Gabby">{{cite journal |last=Otchere-Darko |first=Gabby |year=2010 |title=Ghana's fragile elections: consolidating African democracy through e-voting |journal=Georgetown Journal of International Affairs |volume=11 |issue=2 }}</ref>

Akufo-Addo ran again as [[2010 Ghanaian New Patriotic Party presidential primary election|NPP's presidential candidate]] in the [[2012 Ghanaian general election|2012 national elections]] against [[National Democratic Congress (Ghana)|NDC's]] [[John Mahama]], successor to the late Atta Mills. Mahama was declared the winner of the election, an outcome that was legally challenged by Akufo-Addo.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2013-08-29|title=Ghana Supreme Court upholds John Mahama's win|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-23878458|access-date=2020-12-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 August 2010 |title=Ghana's NPP Chooses Akufo-Addo as 2012 Presidential Candidate |newspaper=Bloomberg|first=Jason|last=McLure |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-08-08/ghana-s-npp-chooses-akufo-addo-as-its-presidential-candidate-for-2012 |access-date=2021-05-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-12-09|title=Incumbent Mahama wins Ghana's presidential election|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20121209-ghana-opposition-claim-election-results-flawed-mahama|access-date=2021-05-17|website=France 24|language=en}}</ref> The court case generated considerable controversy, and was finally decided by the Ghana Supreme Court in a narrow 5/4 decision in favour of Mahama. Akufo-Addo accepted the verdict in the interest of economic stability and international goodwill.<ref name="New African"/><ref>{{Cite web  |title=Ghana election valid |url=https://www.dw.com/en/ghanas-supreme-court-upholds-election-result/a-17054771|date=2013-08-29 |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=DW|first=Chrispin|last=Mwakideu |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2012-12-09|title=Ghana election: Opposition NPP alleges vote fraud|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-20660228|access-date=2021-05-17}}</ref>

In March 2014, Akufo-Addo announced his decision to seek his party's nomination for the third time ahead of the [[2016 Ghanaian general election|2016 election]]. In the NPP primary conducted in October 2014, he was declared victor with 94.35% of the votes.<ref name="Afb">{{cite journal |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=November 2014 |title=Ghana's Presidential Candidates |journal=Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series |volume=51 |issue=10 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2016-12-09|title=Ghana election: Third time lucky for Nana Akufo-Addo|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37977008|access-date=2021-05-17}}</ref> Akufo-Addo also served as chair of the Commonwealth Observer Mission for the South African elections in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 April 2014 |title=Akufo-Addo leads Commonwealth Observer Mission to South Africa |publisher=graphic. |url=http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/akufo-addo-chairs-commonwealth-observer-mission-for-south-africa-election.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705131222/http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/akufo-addo-chairs-commonwealth-observer-mission-for-south-africa-election.html |archive-date=5 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=9 May 2014 |title=South Africa elections 'crucial' says Akufo-Addo |url=http://thecommonwealth.org/media/news/south-africa-elections-crucial-says-akufo-addo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108095639/http://thecommonwealth.org/media/news/south-africa-elections-crucial-says-akufo-addo |archive-date=8 January 2017 |access-date=7 January 2017 |publisher=thecommonwealth.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McTernan |first=Bilie Adwoa |date=2014-01-09 |title=Ghana's NPP prepares for the 2016 presidential race |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/4898/ghanas-npp-prepares-for-the-2016-presidential-race/ |access-date=2021-05-17 |website=The Africa Report. |language=en-US}}</ref>

He focused his campaign on the economy, promising to stabilize the country's foreign exchange rate and to reduce unemployment levels.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lyngaas |first1=Sean |last2=Searcey |first2=Dionne |date=6 December 2016|title=Ghana Presidential Vote Hinges on Economic Perceptions|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/06/world/africa/ghana-election-john-mahama.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421112049/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/06/world/africa/ghana-election-john-mahama.html|archive-date=21 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> 
On 9 December 2016, sitting president Mahama conceded defeat to Akufo-Addo.<ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/ghana-akufo-addo-wins-presidential-election-161209172455364.html "Ghana: Akufo-Addo wins presidential election"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216012923/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/ghana-akufo-addo-wins-presidential-election-161209172455364.html |date=16 December 2016 }}, Al Jazeera, 10 December 2016.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pilling |first=David |date=10 December 2016 |title=Akufo-Addo wins Ghana presidential election |newspaper=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/785703ea-be6e-11e6-8b45-b8b81dd5d080 |access-date=2021-05-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kazeem|first=Yomi|title=Ghana has elected Nana Akufo-Addo as its new president|url=https://qz.com/africa/858481/ghana-decides-nana-akufo-addo-has-been-elected-as-ghanas-new-president/|access-date=2021-05-17|website=Quartz|date=9 December 2016 |language=en}}</ref> Akufo-Addo won the election with 53.83% of the votes against Mahama's 44.4%.<ref>{{cite web|title=National Results For Elections 2016|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/ghanaelection2016/|publisher=ghanaweb|access-date=7 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221153329/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/ghanaelection2016/|archive-date=21 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author1=Matthew Mpoke Bigg |author2=Kwasi Kpodo|date=2016-12-10|title=Ghana's opposition leader Akufo-Addo wins presidential election|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ghana-election-idUSKBN13Y0HA|access-date=2021-05-17}}</ref>

Akufo-Addo announced his intention to run for re-election by picking a nomination form as flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party ahead of the 2020 general elections.<ref name="gbcghanaonline.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/news/president-akufo-addo-19-hospitality-facilities-honoured/2020/|title=President Akufo-Addo, 19 hospitality facilities honoured|date=20 January 2020|website=GBC Ghana Online|access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref> On 9 December 2020, Akufo-Addo was declared the winner of the 7 December 2020 Ghana Presidential election after securing a majority of 51.59% of the vote, just enough to win re-election in a single round.<ref name=nanare-elected /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.africanews.com/2020/12/09/ghana-presidential-election-nana-akufo-addo-declared-winner-by-51-59/|title=Ghana presidential election: Nana Akufo-Addo declared winner by 51.59%|author=Redation, Africa News and Euro News|publisher=Africa News|date=9 December 2020|access-date=9 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tih |first=Felix Nkambeh |date=9 December 2020 |title=Ghana: Nana Akufo-Addo wins 2nd term as president |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/ghana-nana-akufo-addo-wins-2nd-term-as-president/2071501 |access-date=2021-05-17 |website=aa tr}}</ref> In December 2021, Akufo-Addo pledged to respect the two-term limit mandated in the [[Constitution of Ghana|Ghanaian constitution]] and not run for a third term in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ghana's president to push West African peers to respect term limits|url= https://www.reuters.com/article/africa-democracy-ghana-idAFL8N2ST3MR |date=8 December 2021|access-date=15 January 2022|website=reuters.com}}</ref>