Akufo-Addo ‘ignores’ Kufuor’s advice, says he’s in a hurry to achieve ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has restated his hastiness to move Ghana beyond aid despite Former President John Agyekum’s firm counsel to resort to a gradual process

According to former President John Agyekum Kufuor Ghana still needs the support of international donors to support the economy and drive development at all levels.

“It is a matter of phasing. We are in a phase of development. We just do not get up and say no aid. They have exploited us enough so we take to empower ourselves, to build ourselves through education and through attracting investment, creating employment, so it gets to a point where now when they come, they meet their equals. So we have to be careful to say that now where we are, we will not go and ask for aid. We will do it, but only as a stage to empower us,” the former President said.

But barely 24 hours after this statement, President Akufo-Addo in a meeting with Prime Minister of Norway, Ms Erna Solberg, on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), said he was in a hurry to achieve his ‘Ghana beyond aid’ agenda and to create a strong economy that would provide for the needs of its young population.

At a meeting between the co-Chairs of the Advocacy Group of Eminent Persons for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) last Sunday, they discussed economic issues, migration, oil and gas, as well as efforts being made by African countries to achieve all the 17 objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Industrialisation

President Akufo-Addo mentioned how his administration’s determination to improve industrialisation serves as a catalyst to the goal to achieve a Ghana beyond aid. A country where citizens would choose to stay at home and not feel like going out of the country to seek greener pastures elsewhere.

“If we improve the economy, there will be no need for Ghanaians to go elsewhere to achieve economic goals,” he said.

On the attainment of the 17 SDGs in Africa, President Akufo-Addo said it would be a good idea for the Norwegian Prime Minister to have a discussion with the Chairman of the African Union and President of Rwanda, Mr Paul Kagame, who is championing the cause of SDGs in Africa.

He hinted that Ghana would soon establish an embassy in Norway.