President William Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
William Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo—the man who knocked on the door of the presidency four times before luck finally shone on him in 2016 after unsuccessful bids in 2008, 2009, and 2012, Now, as we approach the end of his tenure on January 7, 2025, I find myself reflecting on the many reasons why Akufo-Addo’s presidency will forever be etched in my memory.
How could I possibly forget his grand promise to move Ghana from a taxation-driven economy to one fueled by production? And who could erase from their mind the phrase “yete sika so”—a line that’s now as much a part of our national vocabulary as the air we breathe?
Then, of course, there’s Free SHS. Whether you love it, hate it, or are somewhere in between, it’s not something one can forget in a hurry.
How could I ever forget President Akufo-Addo, the master of renaming and court-packing?
But let’s not stop there. How could anyone forget that under Akufo-Addo, Ghana witnessed the creation of the biggest government in its history? We were introduced to titles we never knew existed: Ambassador At Large, Ambassador Plenipotentiary, and Ambassador In Si-tu. Honestly, it sounds like something out of a royal court from medieval times, doesn’t it?
And let’s not overlook the unique position of Minister of State in the Office of the Senior Minister. That one’s sure to make future generations scratch their heads in bewilderment. How can I forget the Secretary to the Executive Secretary to the President? The titles alone are a bureaucratic maze.
Then, there was the appointment of a CEO for the non-existent Keta Port. Yes, you read that correctly—a CEO for a port that doesn’t exist, but with a very real and airtight condition of service. It’s a feat of imagination that would make even the most creative writers envious.
Let’s talk about Akufo-Addo’s impact on infrastructure—or, should I say, the lack thereof. The Accra Trade Fair? Bulldozed to the ground, never to rise again. The La General Hospital? Transformed into a construction site, a symbol of stalled progress. And who could forget the office spaces of the Ghana Tourism Development Corporation and the Birth and Death Registry block? Gone, but certainly not forgotten.
But let’s not dwell too much on what’s gone. Let’s talk about family and friends. Oh, wait, I said I wouldn’t go there—you can fill in the blanks on that one. You can also talk about corruption, flying aboboyaa, and missing excavators. As for me, I’m more focused on why I can’t forget the President who clinched victory with a margin of over one million votes. A million votes—now that’s a number that sticks with you.
Some might bring up the eight lives lost in the 2020 election. That’s their discussion to have. For me, I’ll always remember Akufo-Addo for the distinction of excavating the world’s most expensive borehole. How could anyone forget that?
And let’s not skip over his State of the Nation Addresses. Oh, the jesting, the bravado! How could I forget Mr. Lomotey slipping off a standerby’s lips, or the time he demanded a chief stand up and bow to him? The titles “Addo Guy-Guy” and “Addo Show Boy” are not just nicknames; they’re a way of life.
So, no, I don’t think I’ll be forgetting Akufo-Addo’s presidency anytime soon. After all, how could I? The memories are just too rich, too absurd, and too unforgettable.
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