President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections are free, fair, and transparent, without any violence.
He emphasized that his government will promote a transparent electoral process to foster peace and stability in the country before, during, and after the elections scheduled for December 7, 2024.
The President made this statement during his thank-you tour of the Upper West Region, where he engaged with clergy, traditional leaders, and members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He highlighted the significance of democratic participation for all Ghanaians in the upcoming elections, stating, “The opportunity for all Ghanaians to voice their opinions and choose who can best address their concerns is the essence of democracy.”
“Everyone with the right to vote will have a say in determining who will be the next President and the next Member of Parliament in your area. That is the beauty of democracy,” he added.
Akufo-Addo expressed his desire to see every Ghanaian participate peacefully in the electoral process, free from violence, intimidation, and manipulation.
The President expressed his gratitude to the Chiefs and people of the Upper West Region for their support and cooperation during his eight years in office, which has contributed to maintaining peace in the country.
He noted that their collaboration has helped protect Ghana from the insurgencies faced by neighboring Burkina Faso, which shares a border with the Upper West Region.
“The peace and stability of the region are increasingly important as we approach December 7, 2024, when we all must demonstrate our strength by electing my successor as President and a new Parliament,” President Akufo-Addo remarked.
He also reflected on the development initiatives undertaken by his government over the past eight years, which he believes provide strong reasons for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to be elected as his successor on December 7.
Among the initiatives he highlighted was the Free Senior High School (SHS) program, which has benefited around 5.6 million Ghanaian children who might otherwise have missed out on education due to financial constraints.
He also mentioned various programs aimed at improving livelihoods in Ghana, including Planting for Food and Jobs, One-District-One-Factory, Agenda 111, and enhancements to the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Regarding development in the Upper West Region, President Akufo-Addo pointed out the construction of over 167 classroom blocks for kindergarten, primary, and junior high schools, as well as 57 classroom blocks for senior high schools.
Other achievements include increasing the region’s road network from 5,797.41 km in 2016 to 6,741.8 km by the end of 2022, building five Agenda 111 hospitals that are at various stages of completion, and constructing 41 community-based health planning and services (CHPS) compounds, among other initiatives.
