Nana Akufo-Addo Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==President of Ghana (2017–present)== {{Further|Presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo}} ===Inauguration=== Akufo-Addo took office on 7 January 2017. His inauguration was held at [[Black Star Square]] in Accra. Twelve presidents from African and [[List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Europe|European countries]] attended the ceremony, including [[Edgar Lungu]] of [[Zambia]], [[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]] of Egypt, [[Ernest Bai Koroma]] of [[Sierra Leone]], [[Robert Mugabe]] of [[Zimbabwe]], [[Muhammadu Buhari]] of Nigeria.<ref>{{cite news|title=LIVESTREAMING: Nana Akufo-Addo takes office as president|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/LIVESTREAMING-Nana-Akufo-Addo-takes-office-as-president-499112|access-date=7 January 2017|publisher=ghanaweb|date=7 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108190217/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/LIVESTREAMING-Nana-Akufo-Addo-takes-office-as-president-499112|archive-date=8 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Akufo-Addo formally sworn in as Ghana's president, gets 21-gun salute|url=http://www.africanews.com/2017/01/07/live-12-presidents-join-ghanaians-to-inaugurate-president-akufo-addo/|date=7 January 2017|access-date=7 January 2017|publisher=africanews.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108143439/http://www.africanews.com/2017/01/07/live-12-presidents-join-ghanaians-to-inaugurate-president-akufo-addo/|archive-date=8 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=6 January 2017 |title=African leaders arrive ahead of Akufo-Addo's inauguration |work=My Joy Online |publisher= |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/African-leaders-arrive-ahead-of-Akufo-Addo-s-inauguration-499057 |url-status=live |access-date=7 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107163919/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/African-leaders-arrive-ahead-of-Akufo-Addo-s-inauguration-499057 |archive-date=7 January 2017}}</ref> Akufo-Addo faced backlash, especially on social media, for plagiarizing parts of his inauguration speech, having lifted passages, word-for-word, from previous inaugural addresses given by American presidents [[John F. Kennedy]], [[Bill Clinton]] and [[George W. Bush]] as well as prepared remarks given by [[Nigerians|Nigerian]] President [[Muhammadu Buhari]] at a 2015 [[United States Institute of Peace]] event.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://pulse.ng/local/buhari-read-full-text-of-president-s-speech-at-us-institute-for-peace-id4005380.html|title=Buhari: Read full text of President's speech at US Institute for Peace|work=Pulse|last=Sotubo|first='Jola|date=23 July 2015 |access-date=10 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211080606/http://pulse.ng/local/buhari-read-full-text-of-president-s-speech-at-us-institute-for-peace-id4005380.html|archive-date=11 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 January 2017 |title=Plagiarism in Akufo-Addo's speech depressing and shocking – Minority |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Plagiarism-in-Akufo-Addo-s-speech-depressing-and-shocking-Minority-499694 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211235358/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Plagiarism-in-Akufo-Addo-s-speech-depressing-and-shocking-Minority-499694 |archive-date=11 February 2017 |access-date=9 February 2017 |website=ghanaweb.}}</ref><ref>Nyanin, Natasha, [http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/11/africa/ghana-plagiarism-row-akufo-addo/ "Opinion: why Ghanaians shouldn't ignore plagiarism row"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211082933/http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/11/africa/ghana-plagiarism-row-akufo-addo/ |date=11 February 2017 }}, CNN, 11 January 2017.</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38555356 "Ghana's Nana Akufo-Addo and other leaders caught up in plagiarism scandals"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924201035/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38555356 |date=24 September 2017 }}, BBC News, 9 January 2017.</ref><ref>Ogundipe, Samuel [http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/219897-ghana-president-akufo-addo-caught-plagiarism-scandal.html "Ghana President Akufo-Addo caught in plagiarism scandal"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075410/http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/219897-ghana-president-akufo-addo-caught-plagiarism-scandal.html |date=11 February 2017 }}, ''Premium Times'' (Nigeria), 8 January 2017.</ref><ref>Abdulai, Hanan R. Confidence, [http://www.myjoyonline.com/opinion/2017/january-9th/of-akufo-addos-speech-plagiarism.php "Of Akufo-Addo's speech plagiarism"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075848/http://www.myjoyonline.com/opinion/2017/january-9th/of-akufo-addos-speech-plagiarism.php |date=11 February 2017 }}, MyJoyOnline, 9 January 2017.</ref> After the scandal came to light, his press office issued an apology, with his communication director describing the situation as a "complete oversight and never deliberate."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/hayesbrown/ghanas-president-ripped-off-george-w-bush-and-bill-clinton-i|author=Brown, Hayes|title=Ghana's President Ripped Off A Bunch Of US Presidents in His Inaugural Speech|newspaper=BuzzFeed|date=10 January 2017|access-date=10 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228082244/https://www.buzzfeed.com/hayesbrown/ghanas-president-ripped-off-george-w-bush-and-bill-clinton-i|archive-date=28 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/ghana-nana-akufo-addo-caught-plagiarism-row-170108165213500.html "Ghana: Nana Akufo-Addo caught up in plagiarism row"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210041336/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/ghana-nana-akufo-addo-caught-plagiarism-row-170108165213500.html |date=10 February 2017 }}, Al Jazeera, 9 January 2017.</ref><ref>Glum, Julia, [http://www.ibtimes.com/who-nana-akufo-addo-ghana-presidents-plagiarism-scandal-explained-2473112 "Who Is Nana Akufo-Addo? Ghana President's Plagiarism Scandal, Explained"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211155212/http://www.ibtimes.com/who-nana-akufo-addo-ghana-presidents-plagiarism-scandal-explained-2473112 |date=11 February 2017 }}, ''International Business Times'', 10 January 2017.</ref> However, after the [[mea culpa]], it was found that Akufo-Addo had also plagiarized portions of his 2013 concession speech after the [[Supreme Court of Ghana]] upheld the 2012 electoral victory of President [[John Dramani Mahama|John Mahama]]. In that speech, lines were lifted verbatim from United States Vice-president [[Al Gore]]'s 2000 presidential concession speech given after the [[US Supreme Court]] verdict.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Full text: Akufo-Addo's post-verdict speech |newspaper=ModernGhana |url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/486053/full-text-akufo-addos-post-verdict-speech.html |url-status=live |access-date=10 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211082743/https://www.modernghana.com/news/486053/full-text-akufo-addos-post-verdict-speech.html |archive-date=11 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eidenmuller |first=Michael E. |title=Online Speech Bank: Al Gore – 2000 Presidential Concession Speech |url=https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/algore2000concessionspeech.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215031537/https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/algore2000concessionspeech.html |archive-date=15 February 2017 |access-date=10 February 2017 |website=americanrhetoric.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 January 2017 |title=Saint Akufo-Addo in the web of the moral shame of new-age plagiarism |url=http://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Saint-Akufo-Addo-in-the-web-of-the-moral-shame-of-new-age-plagiarism-499749 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211235549/http://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Saint-Akufo-Addo-in-the-web-of-the-moral-shame-of-new-age-plagiarism-499749 |archive-date=11 February 2017 |access-date=11 February 2017 |website=mobile.ghanaweb.}}</ref> ===Education sector=== In September 2017, the president launched the [[Free SHS|Free Senior High School (SHS) policy]], which will make [[Secondary school|secondary high school]] free for students in Ghana. The president states it is a "necessary investment in the nation's future workforce" and will help parents who are unable to pay for their children's education due to financial hardships. The program met with positive reaction from the nation, parents and students were excited and fervent, but private schools opposed to the program state it will decrease the number of students enrolling in their system.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ghana Launches Free High School Education|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/ghana-launches-free-high-school-education-nationwide/4030588.html|access-date=11 November 2017|publisher=Joy Online|date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112021254/https://www.voanews.com/a/ghana-launches-free-high-school-education-nationwide/4030588.html|archive-date=12 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Akuffo-Addo launches free SHS|url=http://www.ghananewsagency.org/social/president-akufo-addo-launches-free-shs-122148|agency=Ghana News Agency|access-date=11 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112073901/http://www.ghananewsagency.org/social/president-akufo-addo-launches-free-shs-122148|archive-date=12 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2023, President Akufo-Addo cited the 2022 WASSCE success as proof of his education policies' effectiveness.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Tornyi |first=Emmanuel |date=2023-08-23 |title=Nana Addo brags about Free SHS for producing the best results in the last 8 years |url=https://www.pulse.com.gh/news/local/nana-addo-brags-about-free-shs-for-producing-the-best-results-in-the-last-8-years/b2y3pp8 |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=Pulse Ghana |language=en}}</ref> During a speech at Queen Girls Senior High School in the Western North region, the President credited last year's WASSCE results, the best in eight years, to the success of the Free Senior High School program and related initiatives.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Online |first=Peace FM |title=2022 WASSCE Best Ever In 8 Years – Akufo-Addo Says Free SHS Policy Vindicated |url=https://peacefmonline.com/pages/local/education/202308/492015.php |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=Peacefmonline.}}</ref> Prez. Akufo-Addo celebrated notable improvements in the 2022 WASSCE results, with higher scores in English, Integrated Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies. He also commended the 2021 student cohort for adapting to the double track system.<ref name=":0" /> ===Economy=== In 2018, the president introduced the 7-year Co-ordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies which is expected to create jobs for the country. According to the president, the policies are founded on "five pillars of growth and development, namely revitalizing the economy; transform [[agriculture]] and industry; revamping economic and social infrastructure; strengthening social protection and inclusion; and reforming delivery system of public services institutions.<ref>{{cite news |title=PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO LAUNCHES 7-YEAR CO-ORDINATED PROGRAMME OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT POLICIES |publisher=Ghana Government |url=http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/news/4560-president-launches-action-plan-to-combat-anti-microbial-resistance |url-status=dead |access-date=8 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022052108/http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/news/4560-president-launches-action-plan-to-combat-anti-microbial-resistance |archive-date=22 October 2019}}</ref> Despite the [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]] already warning the country that it was at high risk of debt-distress, the government of Akufo-Addo kept on borrowing, pushing up the nation's public debt from 56% of GDP to 63% before the pandemic. After the pandemic, Ghana borrowed even more in comparison with its neighbours, precipitating a budget-deficit crisis, the second highest in [[Sub-Saharan Africa|Sub Saharan Africa]] at 16% as of 2020, far above the regional average of 6%.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ghana, an oft-lauded African economy, is back for a 17th bail-out |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/08/05/ghana-an-oft-lauded-african-economy-is-back-for-a-17th-bail-out |access-date=2022-09-16 |issn=0013-0613}}</ref> ===LGBT rights=== Akufo-Addo has taken a relatively moderate line on [[LGBT rights in Ghana]]. In November 2017, he suggested that the legalisation of [[homosexuality]] is inevitable and said he can foresee a change in the law.<ref>[https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/legalization-of-homosexuality-ghana-is-bound-to-happen-akufo-addo.html Homosexuality: Legalization in Ghana is bound to happen - Akufo-Addo] ''Graphic Online'', 26 November 2017</ref> Akufo-Addo, who spent much of his early life in [[England]], said that LGBT rights will evolve in Ghana as they have in the [[United Kingdom]]. However, he affirmed that LGBT rights were not part of the government agenda at the moment.<ref>[https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Association-of-gays-lesbians-in-Ghana-to-embark-on-historic-peace-march-in-Accra-604192 Association of gays, lesbians in Ghana to embark on historic peace march in Accra] ''GhanaWeb'', 27 November 2017</ref> In August 2018, he reiterated that the [[Government of Ghana]] would not legalise same-sex marriage or [[Decriminalization|decriminalise]] homosexuality under his leadership.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 August 2018 |title=I'll never legalize homosexuality – Akufo-Addo |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/I-ll-never-legalize-homosexuality-Akufo-Addo-675491 |website=ghanaweb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=10 August 2018|title=President of Ghana 'reassures' church leaders that he won't decriminalise homosexuality|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/08/10/president-of-ghana-reassures-church-leaders-that-he-wont-decriminalise-homosexuality/|first=Nick |last=Duffy}}</ref> ===Sports=== In February 2019, Akufo-Addo's administration announced a complete renovation of sports buildings around Ghana due to the country hosting the [[African Games|Africa Games]] in 2023. Buildings include Accra and [[Cape Coast Sports Stadium]] and the [[Azumah Nelson Sports Complex]] in [[Kaneshie]]. The [[University of Ghana]] Sports Stadium whose renovations were abandoned in 2009 after former President [[John Kufuor|John Agyekum Kufuor]] left office will also proceed.<ref>{{cite web |title=We'll increase sports infrastructure ahead of 2023 All Africa Games – Akufo-Addo |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/We-ll-increase-sports-infrastructure-ahead-of-2023-All-Africa-Games-Akufo-Addo-725161 |publisher=ghanaweb |access-date=10 August 2019 |archive-date=10 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810212349/https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/We-ll-increase-sports-infrastructure-ahead-of-2023-All-Africa-Games-Akufo-Addo-725161 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ===Controversy=== See [[Nana Akufo-Addo administration controversies]] ===Other ventures=== In 2019, the number of regions in Ghana increased from ten to sixteen under the president's administration. The new regions are [[Oti Region|Oti]], [[Western North Region|Western North]], [[North East Region, Ghana|North East]], [[Ahafo Region|Ahafo]] (splitting from Brong), [[Savannah Region|Savannah]] and [[Bono Region|Bono East]] Regions. The creation of the regions ends decades of petitions to the government calling for the development of new regions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ghana Now Has 16 Regions |url=https://www.msn.com/en-xl/africa/top-stories/ghana-now-has-16-regions/ar-BBTEn4N |access-date=12 August 2019 |publisher=MSN}}</ref> In 2020, he signed the [[UNAIDS]] Public Letter on People's Vaccine which was a campaign calling for accessibility of the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] vaccine to all. He joined other world leaders in the signing. He wrote "all people everywhere must have access to the vaccine when one becomes available." Concerns were raised that people in richer countries may have quicker access to the vaccine than poor countries which led to the writing of an open letter that any vaccine against the disease should be free and made available at no cost to all people.<ref name="citinewsroom.com"/> In February 2021, Ghana became the first African country to receive COVID-19 vaccines through the World Health Organization's COVAX program. The shipment consisted of 600,000 doses of the [[Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine|AstraZeneca vaccines]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghana becomes first country to receive Covid vaccine through COVAX program |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/24/africa/ghana-covax-vaccine-intl/index.html |access-date=28 March 2021 |publisher=CNN|first1=Stephanie|last1=Busari|first2=Eric|last2=Cheung |date=24 February 2021}}</ref> In May 2020, he swore into office two appointed [[Supreme Court of Ghana|Supreme Court]] Judges, [[Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu]] and [[Clemence Jackson Honyenuga]] at the [[Jubilee House]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Akufo-Addo Swears In Supreme Court Justices|url=https://dailyguidenetwork.com/akufo-addo-swears-in-supreme-court-justices/|date=22 May 2020|website=DailyGuide Network|language=en-US|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Akufo-Addo swears in Supreme Court Justices Honyenuga and Tanko Amadu|url=https://citinewsroom.com/2020/05/akufo-addo-swears-in-supreme-court-justices-honyenuga-and-tanko-amadu/|date=22 May 2020|website=Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana, Current Affairs, Business News , Headlines, Ghana Sports, Entertainment, Politics, Articles, Opinions, Viral Content|language=en-US|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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