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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that the lives of the people have been impacted positively in the eight-year tenure of his government.
For instance, he mentioned the introduction of the free senior high school policy as one of the government’s achievements, considering the importance of education to national development.
The President said the policy had lifted financial barriers of many families, adding that being the cradle of education in the country, the Central Region bore testament to the fact.
“Before my administration, over 100,000 junior high school graduates could not advance due to cost. Now, with free SHS, more than 5.7 million students have been able to access senior high schools without financial obstacles,” he said.
The President was speaking at a forum in Cape Coast in the Central Region last Wednesday, where he expressed appreciation for their support during his two terms in office.
“I came here to say goodbye and also thank you. Our constitution limits the presidency to two terms.
“In 2016, you gave me the opportunity to lead, and again in 2020, you renewed that trust. Now, as I prepare to step down, it is only fitting that I express my gratitude for your belief in me," he explained.
In attendance were the Central Regional Minister, Marigold Assan, traditional authorities, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (DCEs), religious leaders and NPP parliamentary aspirants in the area and others.
The President further said that the government had made science and technical education more accessible through focus on science, technology and mathematics (STEM), and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes in the country.
On tertiary education, he said: "Now it is very easy and simpler for students to get loans. The only thing a student will need for a loan is his Ghana Card, unlike first when you needed a guarantor."
Touching on the health sector, the President explained that work on the Agenda 111 initiative, designed to strengthen the country’s health infrastructure, was now 70 per cent complete.
He said prior to 2021, 101 out of the 288 districts lacked hospitals which limited the people’s access to timely healthcare services.
Additionally, Nana Akufo-Addo said there was the need to construct hospitals in the six newly created regions, as well as the rehabilitation of the Effia Nkwanta Hospital.
He also emphasised the need for psychiatric facilities in the central, northern and southern parts of the country.
The President said that eight new district hospitals had been constructed in the Central Region, with some of them to be inaugurated before the end of his tenure of office.
President Akufo-Addo also encouraged citizens to maintain confidence in the Electoral Commission, and gave an assurance that the government would do its part to ensure fair and transparent polls on December 7 this year.
He urged the electorate to fully participate in the electoral process which, he said, would help consolidate democracy in the country.
The President expressed confidence in Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia and encouraged the electorate to vote for him in the upcoming election.
The Central Regional Minister, Ms Assan, commended President Akufo-Addo for his dedication to national development, particularly in infrastructure, education and health care.
She said the President did not forsake the region during his tenure, which had led to the implementation of numerous projects in the area, further demonstrating his commitment to uplift the region alongside the rest of the country.
