Ghana’s new president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Saturday made a pledge to protect the country’s public purse by insisting on value for money under his government .
He told the nation moments after his investiture as Ghana’s fifth president that public service is not a moneymaking avenue for politicians but service to the people whose mandate brings them to power.
He affirmed his commitment to ensure a restoration of integrity into the country’s public service.
“We must restore integrity in public life. State coffers are not spoils for a party that wins an election but resources for the country’s social and economic development. I shall protect the public purse by insisting on value for money in all transactions,” he said in his inaugural speech.
“Money is to be made in the private sector and not the public service and measures will be put in place to ensure this,” he stated.
Nana Akufo-Addo takes over the governance of the country for the next four years having won the December 7, 2016 presidential election on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.
He had prior to this victory lost the opportunity twice in 2008 and 2012.
Addressing the nation at a colourful ceremony attended by thousands of Ghanaians and African heads of states, President Akufo-Addo described his victory as humbling.
He said his election is an “extraordinary show of confidence that the Ghanaian people have conferred on my party, the New Patriotic Party and on my modest person.”
‘I’ll not let you down’
Conscious of the high expectations of Ghanaians, Nana Akufo-Addo said he would is determined to accomplish the promises made in the run up to the December 7 polls.
Prominent among the promises the Akufo-Addo government must deliver are one-district, one-factory as well as the provision of one million dollars to each of the 275 constituencies in the country.
“I am determined to do all in my power to accomplish the task of the mandate and justify their confidence…I will not let u the people of Ghana down.
He said his government would create wealth for the people of Ghana, stating “We will provide vision and direction… We are indeed counting on the vibrant private sector to drive growth and create jobs.
“We will bring to life the adventurer in you. It is time to imagine and to dream again; time to try that business idea. We will reduce tax,” he assured.
We wont settle for third world status
Ghana’s youth, President Akufo-Addo observed, wants the best in the world and would not settle for anything less considering that exuberance.
“We have an exuberant and young growing population that wants the best of what the world has to offer and will not settle for third world or developing world standard,” he said.
“We have an adventurous people who are in a hurry for success. I have no doubt that the talents, the energy; sense of enterprise and innovation of the Ghanaian can be harnessed to make Ghana the place where dreams come true,” Nana Akufo-Addo
By Stephen Kwabena Effah|3news.com|Ghana
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