President Akufo-Addo’s Achievements Under Review After 100 Days


Promises of free Senior High School education, reduced taxes, one district one factory, One million Dollars for each constituency, One village-One Dam in the three regions of the North and others by then Candidate Akufo Addo were received with some lingering doubts. 

But, while he was criticised and in some cases chastised for making audacious promises, the President did not waver. 

Radio Ghana’s Presidential Correspondent, Bright Ntramah takes a look at President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s 100 days in office, the promises which have so far been fulfilled against those still on the drawing board. 

President Akufo-Addo began his presidential footprints after his inauguration on January 7, 2017, as the 5th President of the 4th Republic.

The first 100 days of a Presidential term in Ghana took on a symbolic significance during former President Kufuor's administration. 

In fact, it is considered a benchmark to measure the success or otherwise of the new leader and whether potentially he could turn the fortunes of the country around.
 
For starters, President Akufo Addo named some members of what has been described as his "Kitchen cabinet" days before his inauguration. 

In a record time, his cabinet was in place.
 
The President named 36 substantive Ministers who have been vetted and approved by parliament and subsequently sworn into office. 

All his Deputy Ministers have also taken office. 

The Council of State has been reconstituted with changes in the top hierarchy of the security services also effected.
 
Indeed, significant movements of Heads of state institutions have been carried out, all demonstrating the President's his desire to hit the ground running. In fact, in his own words “he is in a hurry".
 
The New Patriotic Party, (NPP) led by its flagbearer at the time promised Free Secondary education in the 2012 general election.
 
The dream by the then Presidential candidate did not materialize because he lost that election. 

In 2016 candidate Akufo Addo again promised the people of Ghana Free SHS. 

He also promised to restore in full, nursing and teacher trainee allowances which were scrapped by the previous government, reduce taxes, build a factory in each district, allocate one million dollars to each constituency and construct a dam in each village in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions. 

Then Candidate Akufo-Addo's promises, at a point were described as audacious and political gimmicks meant to deceive the electorate to win political power.
 
Some political opponents said these promises could not be achieved. 

Former President John Mahama and candidate for the NDC in the 2016 election was one of the ardent critics of the NPP and its manifesto. But in his first 100 days in office, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has shown that these promises are achievable. 

In his encounter with students at Okuapeman Secondary School, (OKUASS), the president stated that the much talked about free SHS will start this September. 

After that announcement by the President to make education at the second cycle free, questions about funding came up. 

In his maiden budget statement to Parliament, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta seemed to have put the issue to rest when he offered some explanations.
 
The Finance Minister also announced that government was abolishing some taxes it considered nuisance in fulfillment of the party’s manifesto promises. 

In his first interaction with the security agencies at the annual WASSA, President Akufo-Addo fulfilled another campaign promise with an increase in the peace keeping allowances from thirty one dollars to thirty five dollars to troops serving with the United Nations. 

The economy has also has shown signs of resilience. 

The cedi has appreciated against major foreign currencies. 
Inflation has also dropped and the base rate reduced. 

The first 100 days in office of the Akufo-Addo led government has received a fair share of criticisms. 

The said plagiarism during his investiture was a dent so early in Nana's government. 

The President has also been criticised for the size of his government, aside from all attacks by the Delta Force, group with links to the NPP is a huge concern to the president and he made it known in his Easter message. 

It is early days yet, however, the first hundred days of every government is critical.
 
But what is of more concern is how the expectations of citizens are met within the four-year tenure of the President, because in the end he will have to come back to the same people to account for his stewardship.


GBC