‘I won’t take my second-term for granted’ – ‘Humbled’ Akufo-Addo thanks Ghanaians

President Nana Akufo-Addo has used his victory speech to express his determination to revive Ghana’s economy to pre-coronavirus heights.

With his second and final term secured, there is a tendency for political leaders to take their foot off the paddle but president Nana Akufo-Addo said ‘I am of a different character.’

President Akufo-Addo won first-round after securing 51.69% against his challenger, the NDC flagbearer John Mahama who got 47.20% in a tightly contested 2020 presidential polls.

Ghana’s constitution requires the winner of the presidential elections to obtain at least 50% plus one.

President Nana Akufo-Addo called the victory “an all-important win” and his victory margin of some 4.3% more votes “decisive.”

“We were confident that the considerable amount of work since coming into office in 2017 would secure us four more years. I am extremely grateful to you for this victory”, he said flanked by his Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Rebecca Akufo-Addo.

He said the government’s immediate focus from 2021 is to revive the economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic which grounded economic activity to a virtual stop.

Adjudged Africa’s fastest-growing economies and a contender for the fastest in the world in 2018, the high-flying economy nose-dived after coronavirus struck in December 2019, reaching Ghana in March 2020.

A lockdown and closure of business saw Ghana revenue plummet. There is a GHȼ14bn black hole in the government’s revenue chest, while the economy has also shrunk by some 6%.

It has triggered a borrowing spree, some 10billion from the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and  $1billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) plus $35m from the World Bank.

The government has also announced a three-year economic recovery programme expected to cost the public purse GHc 100 billion.

In his victory speech, President Nana Akufo-Addo promised Ghanaians that I give you my word, we will regain that position’ as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

“I will do my best not to let you down,” he said and dismissed the perception that exiting presidents have ‘nothing to lose or prove.’

Nana Akufo-Addo called for a closure of political ranks and urged Ghanaians to unite as the 2020 campaign season comes to an end.

The president-elect also condemned violent scenes recorded during the polls which resulted in at least five deaths.

He expressed appreciation to God, the media, the security agencies, and the rank and file of his party.