#SONA2024: The buck stops with the President – Akufo-Addo

Delivering the State of the Nation address in Parliament on Tuesday, February 27, the president noted that the accountability for difficulties firmly rests with him.

He emphasised that he as leader bears responsibility for the problems the country faces.

”Under the constitution, the executive power of the State is vested in the President of the Republic. He or she is the Executive, there is no ambiguity about where the back stops when it comes to responsibility for what happens in the government. It stops with the President, he or she has ultimate responsibility.

”It would be an unwise President that will pretend to have all the answers and refuse the advice of his officials. But the fact remains that the President holds the executive power. The cabinet, the Ministers of State all act ultimately in advisory manner. Of course, a member of the government might take an idea being generated by the president or an official or a committee and turn into a huge success and honours will be claimed or shared where public perception falls. But ultimately, the President is responsible and therefore takes the credit or all the blame for whatever happens in his or her government.

The President’s statement is coming on the back of a recent pronouncement by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, that the Economic Management Team (EMT), that he chairs lacks decision-making powers and serves solely in an advisory capacity to the cabinet.