We’ve squandered many opportunities for economic breakthrough - Nana Addo

President Nana Akufo-Addo says Ghanaians have squandered the many opportunities that would have given the country economic breakthrough, stating a considerable number of people still live in poverty after 63 years of independence.

The President observed the country has been plagued with infrastructure deficit in all sectors of the economy.

“At 63, we know that we have squandered many opportunities that, properly utilised, would have brought us to the economic breakthrough to which we aspire,” he said while at the 63rd Independence celebration in Kumasi on March 6.

Nana Akufo-Addo said Ghanaians have experienced difficulties since independence and stumbled in the quest to reach their potential, but indicated that the country “has never lost her position as the inspirational leading light on the African continent”.

In his view, Ghanaians have solid reasons to rejoice and be thankful to the almighty because the country is more blessed than other nations, saying that alone “must count for something”

“Good things are happening in our country and we are making progress,” he told the gathering of school children, personnel from the security services as well as special dignitaries and Ghanaians from all walks of life who gathered for the independence parade at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Explaining why Ghana is making progress, he said though 19 per cent of Ghanaians don’t have access to potable water, 81 per cent them have access potable water currently.

Also, electricity coverage he said has hit 85 per cent in the country.

Measles, which used to be a major killer in children under five years in Ghana, he indicated, is no more the case as no child has for 17 years now died of measles.

The President indicated that the era where mothers had to sell off their clothes and jewelry to finance their children through senior high was over thanks to the Free SHS education programme his government introduced three years ago.

There are now more children in SHS, especially girls, than ever before, the President said.

“For as long as we’ve not achieved our economic goals we cannot relax and be complacent,” the Nana Akufo-Addo said and asked that “we should live to count our many blessings and not talk ourselves down unnecessarily”.