8 facts you need to know about Nana Akufo-Addo, the new president of Ghana...!!

Nana Akufo-Addo is the new president of Ghana who is being sworn in today, 7th January, 2017. He defeated John Dramani Mahama, the incumbent leader in the elections held in December.

Nana Akufo-Addo.

While the swearing in ceremony would be witnessed thousands of people at Independence Square in central Accra, there are some cool facts you need to know about the president elect. It is essential for you to know some things about the man Mahama is handing the baton of leadership to. 

Find below some interesting things about Nana Akufo-Addo:

1. Akufo-Addo was born and raised in Accra central

The new president was born and raised in Ga-Maami an area in Accra central. His father's property, Betty House, was made the headquarters of the country's first political party after it was formed.

72-year-old Nana Addo stems from rich roots with 3 of the 6 founding fathers of Ghana being his relatives. His father, Edward Akufo-Addo, was the third Justice of Ghana who was later made the president of the republic from 1969 to 1972. Nana Addo is the 5ht president o the republic.

2. He started his education in Accra central

Nana Addo started his primary education at the Government Boys School in Adabraka and Rowe Road school in the central part of Accra.

He proceeded to England where he studied for his O-Level and A-Level examinations before he returned to Ghana to take up a teaching job at Accra Academy Secondary School. 

 He proceeded to University of Ghana, Legon, where he got a degree in Economics in 1967. His thirst for knowledge made him study law in the UK and was called to the Ghana bar in July 1975 (four years after he was called to the English bar).

The president worked with U.S law firm for a while before he co-founded the law firm Prempeh and Co.

3. He had a legal career

Nana Addo practiced in France for 5 years as a lawyer. He worked with Coudert Brothers, the then New York based international law firm. This made him get a grasp of the French language in addition to learning how international corporate transactions work.

The president elect decided to return to Accra to continue with his legal career. He was part of the U.V Campbell chambers from 1975 to 1979 before he moved on. The Akufo-Addo law firm and Prempeh and Co he created in 1979 remain relevant till date.

His law firm has produced the finest lawyers in the society. People like Sophia Akuffo, the Justice of the Supreme Court and Joe Ghartey, the former attorney general and minister for justice passed through his law firm.

There are other prominent figures like Joyce Darko, Philip Addison, Yoni Kulendi, Kwame Akuffo and Kwaku Asirifi.

4. He is driven by humanity

Nana Addo is a man who is passionate about people; he has made it a point of duty to reach out to people the best ways he could. He used his knowledge of law to help people fight for justice, freedom, democracy and above all, to champion their rights as humans.

He gives free legal assistance to those who are needy and helped fight for the rights and liberty of Ghanaians. He promoted the right of equal access of all political parties to the state owned media. He also protected the independence of the judiciary and helped citizens demonstrate their rights.

5. He introduced mobile telephones to Ghana

Nana Addo had numerous opportunities to serve in different capacities. Being the first chairperson of DHL (Ghana) Ltd, he served on many boards and committees of major organisations in the country.

Through his association, the use of mobile telephones in Ghana was made possible. His interaction with Millicom, a US company, made it possible for him to achieve this feat.

He was also made the first chairperson of the Ghana Committee on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Kinesec Communications (Co) Ltd.

6. He was at one time an Attorney General

Nana Addo had an early start in life;p while he was in his 30s, he was made the general secretary of broad-based People’s Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ).

This group had staunch political members like Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa, William Ofori-Atta, Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, Albert Adu Boahen, Sam Okudzeto, Obed Asamoah, Godfrey Agama, K. S. P. Jantuah, Jones Ofori-Atta, Johnny Hanson and Nii Amaah Amartefio ("Mr. No").

The members of this group led a campaign in the UNIGOV referendum of 1978 set to solicit popular support for a one-party military-led state. This campaign brought about the fall of Acheampong military government on 5th July, 1978.

Nana Addo had to take a break after this campaign because his life was in danger. From his exile mode, he continued the fight and is acknowledged as pro-democracy movement leader in Ghana.

He was elected thrice as member of parliament for the Abuakwa South constituency in the Eastern region of Ghana between 1996 and 2008. He was made a cabinet minister from 2001 to 2007 and then as the Attorney General and Minister for Justice for two years. He was also the Foreign Minister for 5 years and served under the government of Kufuor with lots of credits.

7. He has been in active pursuit of the office of the president

Nana Addo competed in the 1998 presidential election where he lost to John Agyekum Kufuor. He did not allow this to depress him as he served diligently under Kufuor .

In 2008 elections, he resigned from this position to contest for the position of the presidential candidate of his party, the NPP, the then ruling party of Ghana. He had a remarkable performance in the election but lost to Mills with the smallest margin in the history of Ghana and Africa's political activities.

Undaunted by these events, he contested for this position again in 2012 national elections against John Mahama who emerged the winner again. He accepted the negative verdict o the court and did not allow any political tension to disrupt the peace of the country. 

8. He is a lover of peace

One thing to be learnt in the life and style of Nana Addo is patience. Having contested more than two times for this position, anyone would be depressed and give up.

But with the resiliency and courage he displayed, it is not surprising that the position is finally his. He supported those who he contested with while they were reigning and promoted peace, love and unity through his actions.