Akufo-Addo is 74 today

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is 74 years old today, Thursday, 29 March 2018.

Nana Akufo-Addo was born in Swalaba, Accra. He was brought up in Ga Maamli (Accra Central) and in the Nima area of Accra.

His father's residence, Betty House, at Korle Wokon in Accra, was effectively the headquarters of the country's first political party, the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), after it was formed at Saltpond on 4 August 1947.

Three of the ‘Big Six’ — the founding fathers of Ghana — were his relatives: J. B. Danquah (grand uncle), William Ofori Atta (uncle) and Edward Akufo-Addo (the third Chief Justice of Ghana and later ceremonial President of the Republic from 1969 to 1972), who was his father.

He first run for president in 2008 as flagbearer of the NPP but was beaten by late Prof John Evans Atta Mills. His second attempt in 2012 was also unsuccessful. He was beaten by President John Mahama.

He was chosen as the NPP's candidate for a third time in the 2016 elections and defeated incumbent John Mahama in the first round (winning 53.85% of the votes) which was an unprecedented defeat and the first time in the history of Ghana.

President Akufo-Addo’s key flagship programme, Free Senior High School Education, was launched in September 2017 to make secondary high school free for students in Ghana.

His vision is to see a Ghana beyond aid in the nearest future.

He is married to Rebecca Akufo-Addo, the daughter of judge, Jacob Hackenburg Griffiths-Randolph, the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana during the Third Republic. They have five daughters.