8 unforgettable moments under Akufo-Addo's reign

Despite several backlashes on former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's administration over economic hardship and mismanagement, the former statesman made a humorous name for himself in the eyes of the public and the international community.

The president, on several occasions, portrayed certain gestures, utterances, and other traits that will forever remain with Ghanaians, as most of these instances became topics of discussion for years.

GhanaWeb compiles eight unforgettable moments of President Akufo-Addo in no particular order:

1. Akufo-Addo orders a chief to stand and greet him

In the 12-second video that went viral, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at an event believed to be a funeral, was shown making his way to greet traditional leaders at the event.

But in what should have been a routine activity, the president and one of his bodyguards are seen signaling to some of the chiefs to rise to their feet before he greets them.

In the video, when the president reached one particular chief, who was also seated, he gesticulated at him and then, as if to communicate something to him, pointed at himself and then again hand-gestured to the traditional leader to rise to his feet. He did this before President Akufo-Addo extended his hand to the man to shake it.

2. Money doesn’t like noise – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo warned persons talking down the local currency, the Cedi. He said that talking down the Cedi was contributing to its woes.

Addressing the nation on the economy on Sunday, October 30, Akufo-Addo said, “Fellow Ghanaians, as the French would say, l’argent n’aime pas le bruit, to wit, money does not like noise, ‘sika mpɛ dede.’ Where there is chaos, where there is noise, where there is unrest, you will not find money.

“Money doesn’t like noise. If you talk down your currency, it will go down. If you allow others to talk down your currency, it will go down.”

“All of us have a role to play in strengthening the Cedi and stopping speculation. Those who publish falsehoods resulting in panic, the relevant state agencies will act against such persons,” he added.

3. You don’t vote for me

President Akufo-Addo, in October 2023, assured the people of Mepe and other flood-affected areas in the Volta Region, caused by the Akosombo Dam spillage, that the government would spare no effort to assist them during these challenging times.

Regardless of their political affiliations or voting history, Akufo-Addo reaffirmed that he is president for all Ghanaians and that he remains committed to his presidential mandate of standing up for them in their times of trouble.

During an interaction with the residents on Monday, October 16, 2023, the president emphasized his commitment to the welfare of every Ghanaian, stating, "When I took the oath of office as president, I took the oath of office as president for every single individual in Ghana, of all the people in Ghana, all districts, whether they voted for me or not. Once I have taken the oath of office, I am the president of all the people."

“So Togbe, you and your elders, I want you to understand that when something like this happens and the government acts, the government is acting for Ghanaians.

“I came here because Ghanaians are having difficulties and suffering, and it is my responsibility to try and help. If it is the question of counting who votes for me and who doesn’t vote for me, I shouldn’t be here because you don’t vote for me, but that is not my concern," he said.

4. Akufo-Addo mistakenly endorses NDC's Nii Lante Vanderpuye at the final rally

A pretty awkward and perhaps funny moment was witnessed at the NPP’s last rally at Mantse Agbonaa in Accra in December 2020 as President Akufo-Addo introduced the NPP’s parliamentary candidate for the area as Nii Lante Vanderpuye instead of Nii Lante Bannerman.

“In Odododiodio, if you are voting for me, then you are also voting for Nii Lante Vanderpuye,” the president said as he held the hand of Nii Lante Bannerman.

Having been notified that he had caused a blunder, President Akufo-Addo quickly mentioned Nii Lante Bannerman. Amid laughter, he apologized and urged the people to pick Bannerman over Vanderpuye.

“I didn’t speak well at all. I have made a mistake. What am I going to do with Nii Lante Vanderpuye? I meant Nii Lante Bannerman, and I want you all to vote for him,” Nana Akufo-Addo said as the crowd cheered and applauded.

5. Complete the abandoned E-block if you are frustrated – Akufo-Addo tells Aflao chief

The first incident occurred during a radio interview on Peace FM in October 2021. The paramount chief of the Aflao Traditional Area, Torgbui Adzonugaga Amenya Fiti, had given the government a four-month ultimatum to open the E-block community day senior high school, which, in his view, had stalled since 2016.

The GH¢9 million project, which was part of some 200 classroom blocks the erstwhile Mahama administration started, was supposed to have some 26 classrooms attached and five departments, including a science block.

Torgbui Adzonugaga Amenya Fiti, speaking with the Minority side of the Education Committee who toured the uncompleted school buildings in the Ketu South constituency, said the government’s approach to education was appalling.

"If we have to beg for education before people can go to school, then I don’t know what we call democracy at all. Look at the structure, it’s almost 90 percent complete. The thieves are having a field day, going in there to have everything removed at will.”

“The NPP government now has free SHS education, but my people are not benefitting because there is no school here. So, I am giving the Education Minister up until February [2022] for the school to be completed,” the chief added.

In response, during an interview on Peace FM, President Akufo-Addo suggested that the paramount chief should complete the abandoned block himself if he was frustrated with the delay.

“Is he the one going to give the Minister of Education an ultimatum? Then he should go and complete it.”

6. Open your eyes, you’ll see our factories – Akufo-Addo tells NDC MPs

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo took a swipe at critics of his government, particularly regarding the fulfillment of some of his major promises like the One District One Factory (1D1F) Initiative.

On that flagship industrial transformation policy, President Akufo-Addo said 232 projects are at various stages of implementation.

Addressing the Eighth Parliament in his first state-of-the-nation address to members on Tuesday, March 9, the president said his government would continue the agenda of rapid industrialization “with the aim of transforming the structure of the Ghanaian economy from one dependent on the production/export of raw materials to a value-added industrialized economy.”

He said the Initiative has already seen 76 firms operating as 1D1F companies while 112, including five medium-sized agro-processing factories and 63 common-user facilities, are under construction.

“Open your eyes [and] you will see them,” he jabbed the Minority Caucus, whose members jeered him at the mention of the program in his address.

7. Akufo-Addo mocks NDC as a huge umbrella falls on him

President Akufo-Addo, delivering a speech at a durbar organized at the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area, Jamestown in honor of him and the First Lady in April 2017, amused the gathering with an innuendo to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) when an umbrella that provided shade for him fell on his head.

“Cooperate with my government and me towards progress [umbrella falls]. This is what happens when you have an umbrella. It’s never steady,” he said with a broad smile on his face.

The NDC, a social-democratic political party, has an umbrella with the head of a dove at the tip as its symbol with red, white, green, and black as its colors.

8. Akufo-Addo angry at Mempeasem chief's conduct during the national anthem

A viral video that circulated on social media captured the attention of Ghanaians, showcasing a moment of intense emotion by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the commemorative tree-planting exercise on Green Ghana Day.

The footage reveals President Akufo-Addo seemingly provoked as he orders the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, to take immediate action.

The said incident occurred at the University of Ghana, where dignitaries gathered to grace the Green Ghana Day initiative on June 9, 2023.

During the event, as the national anthem was being sung, attendees proudly stood, symbolizing their patriotism. However, towards the conclusion of the anthem, President Akufo-Addo can be seen in the video visibly agitated and forcefully instructing Henry Quartey to address a situation that purportedly had transpired during the anthem's recitation.

The specifics of the incident, as shared on social media, suggest that a chief at the event was seated while the national anthem was being played, and the president, furious, had ordered the Greater Accra Minister to call him to order.

AM/KA

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