Experts assess Akufo-Addo ahead of presser today

President Nana Akufo-Addo will Tuesday afternoon open up to the media on the achievements of his administration in the last six months.

Nana Akufo-Addo took office in January after a first round victory in December last year, ending his party’s stay in opposition after eight years.

He has, however, faced criticism over the handling of activities of political vigilante groups such as the Delta Force and Invincible Forces that have been responsible for some unlawful activities.

Today, at the Banquet Hall of the Flagstaff House, some selected Journalists and media practitioners will question the President on some of the decisions he has taken since he assumed power.

They will also seek answers to how the President intends to fulfill many of the campaign promises he made.

However, ahead of the media encounter, Director of research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Center, Dr. Kwesi Aning, and the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Anti-corruption Coalition, Linda Ofori-Kwafo have offered their assessment of the President’s six months old administration.

“I believe the President will have to do more when it comes to his efforts to fighting corruption,” Linda Ofori-Kwafo told Joy News.

She said even though the President has made several commitments to dealing with the graft, “he is still pushing more on the agenda of prosecuting corruption”.

“That is fine but we should know that that will not holistically deal with the problem,” she said.

Dr. Aning also said the President’s decision to appoint a substantive Minister for Security who is answerable to Parliament is a good step he took.

Dr Aning

“If you remember, in the last eight to ten years or so, there has been a lacuna in which Parliament could not hold anyone responsible if the institution did not work,” he said.

He adds: “We notice a qualitative shift and change in  terms of the President’s consistent demands and requests to the IGP particularly to perform in a manner that gives confidence to Ghanaians across board.”

President Akufo-Addo is expected to touch on security, illegal mining, the economy, the National Health Insurance (NHIS), infrastructure, education, good governance among others.

Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, has said the President sees the media interaction as a democratic requirement.

He said the President will use the event to solicit for ideas, suggestions and constructive criticisms that would smoothen the rough edges of his vision for Ghana.

He recognises that he is a human being and, thus, he is not perfect and, therefore, once a while you meet with the people to give you ideas and make suggestions, the Information Minister said.

Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | GN