Life @76: Reflecting on Akufo-Addo's inspiring words

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is 76 years today. For over three years, he has been in charge of the country, taking decisions at every point towards the development of the country and in the interest of citizens.

Of course, like every leader, he may have had his down times, times when his decisions were criticised and massively protested by the mass. There have been times when his decisions seem pretty ‘inconsiderate’ and the populace will not agree with him and castigate him for that.

He is in his fourth year in his first term as president and Ghanaians will soon make a decision whom to choose as president for the next four-year period, but on a day he marks his 76th anniversary, www.ghanaweb puts the spotlight on some of the times he inspired many with some quite notable and motivational quotes.

Here is a compilation of a few of them.

“I assure you that we know what to do to bring back our economy back to life. What we do not know how to do is to bring people back to life. We will, therefore, protect people’s lives, then their livelihoods.” – President Akufo-Addo on Coronavirus

“We can no longer continue to make policy for ourselves, in our country, in our region, in our continent on the basis of whatever support the western world or France or the European Union can give us. It will not work, it has not work and it will not work.” – President Akufo-Addo during a meeting with France’s Emmanuel Macron

“I ask you to be citizens: citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens building your communities and our nation. Let us work until the work is done." – President Akufo-Addo during his inauguration speech.

“Let us all remember that the destiny of all black people no matter where they are in the world is bound up with Africa. We must help make Africa the place for investment, progress and prosperity and not from where our youth flee in the hope of accessing the mirage of a better life in Europe or the Americas”. – President Akufo-Addo during the launch of the “Beyond the Return” Initiative.

“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to this pandemic. We have a unique situation in our country, and we must take it into account in dealing with the disease, whilst meeting all the six (6) key WHO guidelines on the most effective ways of combating the pandemic.” – Akufo-Addo on Coronavirus

“We must eat what we grow to motivate our farmers and support the development of the local food industry. Indeed, Rebecca, my beautiful wife, our First Lady, insists that we eat local rice at home, and has made sure of it. I call on all Ghanaians to follow my example and eat local rice” – President Akufo-Addo on 35th Farmers’ Day celebration

“Your decision to take up Ghanaian citizenship means you have agreed to respect and abide by the laws of Ghana and live in accordance with the tenets of Ghana’s Constitution. You have the responsibility of preserving and promoting the image of a country whose reputation amongst the comity of nations is today high”. “In all your actions, I urge you to guard jealously our country’s image. It is a charge I am confident you will uphold” – President Akufo-Addo during conferment of Ghanaian Citizenship on126 Members of the African-American Diaspora Community

“Stay true to your own principles. I think there are two types of people in this world. There are those who walk to the sound of other people’s drums and those who walk to the sound of their own drums. I much prefer those who walk to the sound of their own drums. So listen to yourself and make sure that the decisions that you are going to make are decisions that are in consonance with your understanding of what is best for Ghana football.” – President Akufo Addo during a courtesy call by Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku

“I have great confidence in the Ghanaian sense of enterprise, creativity, innovation and hard work. I believe firmly that given an enabling atmosphere, the sky is the limit for us.” – President Akufo-Addo during commissioning of the OMNIFERT Fertilizer Company

“I came to the Presidency as an old man, so I know about what it takes to wait for office. You are a young man, plenty of time ahead for you. We pray for long life for you and for health and that you commit yourself like you have done through your spokesperson today, to reconciliation in Dagbon” – President Akufo-Addo during a meeting with the Abudu royal family of Dagbon, led by the Bolin Lana, Abdulai Mahamudu

“This, certainly, is not the time for politicking or the display of partisanship. The virus does not care which party you belong to, neither is it, as we have seen, a respecter of persons. The enemy is the virus, and not each other.” – President Akufo Addo on coronavirus

“When we make the wrong choices, we must act to set things right. When those put in charge of running the affairs of state get it wrong, we must have the courage, the humanity and the selflessness to say so. That is our patriotic duty. We should also not be seen, at every given opportunity, to be running down our nation merely to realize our narrow, parochial and partisan interest. That is not acceptable patriotism”. – President Akufo-Adddo during the 109th anniversary celebrations of the Adisadel College

“As we seek to move our country to a situation beyond aid, I urge all Ghanaians to be natural champions of a law-based state whose establishments are solid enough to sanction effectively vigilantism, bank frauds, cyber frauds, illegal mining, identity thefts, stealing of public funds, bribery and corruption, criminal cartels and criminal behaviour in general, including assault on and by law enforcement officers” – President Akufo-Addo during launch of the Judicial Service of Ghana’s “E-Justice Project

“It is not good for us politicians to be misleading the people. If you have not done something, don’t claim it, don’t write it in your book, don’t make pronouncements on it. The people themselves can tell the truth of what is going on”. “I think it is important that we the political leaders of the country exercise some sense of responsibility when we are making some of these claims” – President Akufo-Addo during courtesy call by delegation of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs

“We are in this together, and Government will stand by you. We are aware that there will be discomfort and difficulties for all of us over the next couple of weeks.” - President Akufo-Addo on Coronavirus