Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been the President of Ghana since 2017.
1944
Early life and education
Born on March 29, 1944, in Swalaba, a suburb of Accra, Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo hails from a prominent Ghanaian royal and political family, including his father Edward Akufo-Addo, who served as Ghana's Chief Justice, Constitutional Commission chairman, and non-executive president. He is also related to notable figures like Kofi Asante Ofori-Atta, William Ofori Atta, and J. B. Danquah.
1970
UP tradition
While initially a supporter of the Convention People's Party (CPP) during his time at the University of Ghana, he switched to the rival UP tradition after President Nkrumah's overthrow in 1966 when his father became ceremonial president. His formal entry into politics was in the late 1970s with the People's Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ), opposing the Supreme Military Council's Union Government proposals. Akufo-Addo was a key figure in the Alliance for Change, which organized protests against policies and human rights violations during the Rawlings presidency. He also served in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th parliaments of the 4th republic representing the Abuakwa Constituency, winning the 1996 and 2000 elections with significant margins.
1979
Political career
He began his education in Accra, then studied in England at Lancing College and briefly at Oxford. After returning to Ghana, he studied economics at the University of Ghana and later became a lawyer, being called to the English and Ghanaian bars. Akufo-Addo also worked with the law firm Coudert Brothers and co-founded Prempeh and Co. in 1979.
1998
NPP presidential nomination
In October 1998, Akufo-Addo ran for the NPP presidential nomination but lost to John Kufuor, who became President in 2001. Akufo-Addo played a key role in Kufuor's campaign and served as the first attorney general and Minister for Justice during Kufuor's presidency, later taking on roles in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NEPAD.
2008
2008 Presidential Race
2017
Achievments
In the education sector, President Akufo-Addo introduced the Free Senior High School policy in 2017 to make secondary education free, which received positive reactions but faced opposition from private schools. He cited the program's success in the 2022 WASSCE results. In the economy, he launched a 7-year Co-ordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies, aiming to create jobs but also increased the country's debt. Akufo-Addo has taken a moderate stance on LGBT rights and initiated the renovation of sports facilities for the 2023 Africa Games. He also oversaw the creation of six new regions in Ghana. He signed the UNAIDS Public Letter advocating for equal access to COVID-19 vaccines, and Ghana received vaccines through the COVAX program. In 2020, he swore in two Supreme Court Judges.
2018
Personal life
Akufo-Addo received several awards and honors, including the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice in 2016 and the National Achievement Award in 2017. He was recognized for Exemplary Leadership in 2018 and received the African Port Award for modernizing Ghana's ports. He was also awarded the 2018 Outstanding Leader's Award by the U.S. Africa Business Centre. In 2019, he became a co-chair of the SDG advocates and received the ANOCA Merit Award for Heads of State for his contribution to sports development. Akufo-Addo was honored at the fourth Ghana Hotels Association Awards and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Sorbonne. He also received the Medal of Merit in Leadership Award from the African Bar Association.
He received foreign honors from Guyana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Morocco, Portugal, Senegal, and Serbia.
2023
Personal life
Akufo-Addo, hailing from Akropong-Akuapem and Kyebi in the Eastern Region, comes from a Presbyterian family. He is married to Rebecca Akufo-Addo, with two previous marriages to Remi Fani-Kayode and Eleanor Nkansah-Gyamenah. He has four biological daughters and one stepdaughter: Gyankroma, Edwina, Adriana, Yeboakua, and Valerie.
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