The presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo began on 7 January 2017 and ended on 7 January 2025. Following the 2016 Ghanaian general elections, Nana Akufo-Addo the flag-bearer of the New Patriotic Party, succeeded John Mahama as the 13th president of Ghana and the fifth of the Fourth Republic after winning by a landslide. He won a second term on 9 December 2020 in a tightly contested race against National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate and former president, John Mahama.
He focused his campaign on the economy, promising to stabilise the country's foreign exchange rate and to reduce unemployment levels. Akufo-Addo faced a banking crisis during his first term. The major policies in his first term were the Free SHS policy, which made access to Senior High school in Ghana free, and the One district, one factory policy. In 2017, he declared an environmental war on illegal artisanal mining in Ghana. Akufo-Addo's government provided several responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Ghana's economy. His foreign policy entailed strengthening ties between Ghana and the African diaspora. This included fostering relations with nations of the Caribbean. Akufo-Addo also ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area and supported intra-African trade.
2016 general election
Nana Addo ran twice in the presidential elections as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate when he was defeated by National Democratic Congress' candidates John Evans Atta Mills in 2008 and John Dramani Mahama in 2012 . Akufo-Addo won the presidential election in 2016 as the NPP candidate by defeating John Dramani Mahama marking the first time in Ghanaian history that an opposition candidate won a majority outright in the first round.
Inauguration
Akufo-Addo took office on 7 January 2017. His inauguration was held at Black Star Square in Accra. Twelve presidents from African and European countries attended the ceremony, including Edgar Lungu of Zambia, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria. During his inauguration, Akufo-Addo made several promises which included the following:
Protecting the public purse by giving attention to value for money in all transactions. Promising to make Ghana attractive for business once again. Pledging to cooperate and promote peace on the African continent as well as political stability and democracy.
Personnel
Ministers Current GovernmentOffice(s) Officeholder TermPresidentNana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo7 January 2017 –Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia 7 January 2017 –Sector MinistersOffice(s) Officeholder TermMinistry of Trade and IndustryAlan John KyerematenCarlos Kingsley Ahenkorah (MP) (deputy minister)Robert Ahomka-Lindsey (deputy minister)27 January 2017 –(nominated)(nominated)Ministry of FinanceKen Ofori-AttaKwaku Kwarteng (Deputy minister)Abena Osei Asare (MP) (Deputy minister)Charles Adu Boahen (Deputy minister)27 January 2017 –(nominated)(nominated)(nominated)Ministry of DefenceDominic NitiwulDerrick Oduro (Maj.) (Deputy minister)27 January 2017 –(nominated)Ministry of The InteriorAmbrose DeryHenry Quartey (deputy minister)27 January 2017 –(nominated)Ministry of Energy and PetroleumJohn Peter Amewu Boakye Agyarko
Owuraku Aidoo (deputy minister)Joseph Cudjoe (deputy minister)Mohammed Amin Adam (deputy minister)August 2018- 27 January 2017 –August 2018(nominated)(nominated)(nominated)Office of Attorney General and Ministry of JusticeGloria AkuffoGodfred Dame (deputy minister)Joseph Dindiok Kpemka (Deputy minister)27 January 2017 –(nominated)(nominated)Ministry of Foreign AffairsShirley Ayorkor Botwe (MP)Mohammed Habbib Tijani (Deputy minister)Charles Owiredu (Deputy minister)29 January 2017 -(nominated)(nominated)Ministry of Food and AgricultureOwusu Afriyie Akoto William Agyapong Quaitoo (Deputy minister)Sagre Bambangi (Deputy minister)George Oduro (Deputy minister)27 January 2017 –(nominated) - 29 August 2017(nominated)(nominated)Ministry of EducationMatthew Opoku-Prempeh Yaw Osei Adutwum (Deputy minister)27 January 2017 –(nominated)(nominated)Ministry of HealthKwaku Agyemang-ManuDr Bernard Oko-Boye(MP) (Deputy minister)Tina Gifty Naa Ayele Mensah (Deputy minister)27 January 2017 –(nominated)(nominated)Ministry Monitoring and Evaluation (Ghana)Anthony Akoto Osei William Kwasi Sabi (Deputy minister)7 February 2017 –(nominated)Ministry of Regional Reorganization and Development (Ghana)Dan Kweku Botwe (MP)Martin Agyei-Mensah Korsah (Deputy minister)7 February 2017 –(nominated)Ministry of Lands and Natural ResourcesKwaku Asomah-Cheremeh John Peter Amewu
Benito Owusu Bio (Deputy minister)Barbara Oteng Gyasi (Deputy minister)August 2018- 7 February 2017 –August 2018(nominated)(nominated)Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (Ghana)Cecilia Abena Dapaah (MP)Patrick Boamah (Deputy minister)Michael Yaw Gyato (Deputy minister)August 2018 –(nominated)(nominated)Ministry of Railway Development (Ghana)Joe GharteyKwaku Agyenim Boateng (Deputy minister)Andy Appiah-Kubi (Deputy minister)7 February 2017 –(nominated)(nominated)Ministry of Employment and Labour RelationsIgnatius Bafuor Awuah (MP)Bright Wireko Brobbey (Deputy minister)7 February 2017 –(nominated)Ministry of TransportKweku Ofori AsiamahNii Kwartei Titus Glover (Deputy minister)7 February 2017 –(nominated)Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (Ghana)Catherine Ablema Afeku (MP)Ziblim Barri Iddi (Deputy minister)10 February 2017 –(nominated)Ministry of Special Development Initiative (Ghana)Mavis Hawa Koomson (MP)10 February 2017 –Senior Minister (Ghana)Yaw Osafo-Maafo27 January 2017 –Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology Kwabena Frimpong-BoatengPatricia Appiagyei (Deputy minister)7 February 2017 –(nominated)National Security Ministry (Ghana)Albert Kan-Dapaah27 January 2017 –Ministry of Youth and SportsIsaac Kwame Asiamah (MP)Pius Enam Hadzide (Deputy minister)10 February 2017 –(nominated)Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (Ghana)Alima MahamaOsei Bonsu Amoah (Deputy minister)Collins Ntim (Deputy minister)Kwasi Boateng Agyei (Deputy minister)27 January 2017 –(nominated)(nominated)(nominated)Ministry of Works and Housing (Ghana) Samuel Atta Akyea (MP)Freda Prempeh (Deputy minister)Eugene Antwi (Deputy minister) Ms Barbara Asher Ayisi(Deputy minister)7 February 2017 –(nominated)(nominated)Ministry of CommunicationUrsula Owusu Ekuful (MP)George Andah (Deputy minister)Vincent Sowah Odotei (Deputy minister)7 February 2017 –(nominated)(nominated)Ministry of InformationKojo Oppong Nkrumah Mustapha Abdul-Hamid
Ama Dokuaa Asiamah Agyei (Deputy minister)Perry Curtis Kwabla Okudzeto (Deputy minister)August 2018- 10 February 2017 –August 2018
(nominated)(nominated)Ministry of Roads and HighwaysKwesi Amoako AttaKwabena Owusu Aduomi (MP) (Deputy minister)Anthony N-Yoh Puowele Karbo (MP) (Deputy minister)7 February 2017 –(nominated)(nominated)Ministry of Gender, Children and Social ProtectionCynthia Morrison Otiko Afisa Djaba
Gifty Twum Ampofo (Deputy minister)November 2018- 7 February 2017 –August 2018(nominated)Ministry of PlanningGeorge Yaw Gyan-Baffour (Prof.) (MP)10 February 2017 –Ministry of Fisheries And AquacultureElizabeth Afoley Quaye (MP)Francis Kingsley Ato Cudjoe (Deputy minister)10 February 2017 –(nominated)Ministry for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (Ghana)Kofi DzamesiPaul Essien (Deputy minister)10 February 2017 –(nominated)Ministry of Inner cities and Zongo Development (Ghana)Abubakar Boniface Siddique (MP)
Mustapha Abdul-Hamid10 February 2017 –August 2018 August 2018-Ministry of Business DevelopmentIbrahim Mohammed Awal10 February 2017 –Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (Ghana)Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu (MP)10 February 2017 –Ministry of AviationJoseph Kofi Koddi AddaKwabena O. Darko-Mensah (Deputy minister)August 2018–(nominated)Ministers of StateOffice(s) Officeholder TermMinister of State at the Office of the President in charge of Public ProcurementSarah Adwoa Safo4 April 2017 –Minister of State at the Ministry of Education in charge of Tertiary EducationKwesi Yankah (Prof.)4 April 2017 –Minister of State at the Ministry of AgricultureNurah Gyeile4 April 2017 –Minister of State at the Office of the PresidentBryan Acheampong (MP)4 April 2017 –Regional MinistersRegion Officeholder TermAshanti Regional MinisterSimon Osei-MensahElizabeth Agyeman (Deputy minister)19 February 2017 –(nominated)Brong Ahafo RegionKweku Asomah-CheremehEvans Opoku (Deputy minister)19 February 2017 –(nominated)Central RegionKwamena DuncanThomas Agyei Baffour (Deputy minister)19 February 2017 –(nominated)Eastern RegionKwakye DarfourJoseph Tetteh (MP) (Nkansah Sampson)19 February 2017 –(nominated)Greater Accra Regional MinisterIshmael AshiteyElizabeth Kwatsoo Tetteh Sackey (Deputy minister)19 February 2017 –(nominated)Northern RegionSalifu SaeedSolomon Namliit Boar (MP) (Deputy minister)19 February 2017 –(nominated)Upper East RegionAlhassan SamariFrank Fuseini Adongo (MP) (Deputy minister)19 February 2017 –(nominated)Upper West RegionSulemana AlhassanAmidu Ishaq (Deputy minister)19 February 2017 –(nominated)Volta Regional MinisterArchibald LetsaMaxwell Blagogee (Deputy minister)19 February 2017 –(nominated)Western RegionKwaku AfriyieEugenia Gifty Kusi (Deputy minister)19 February 2017 –(nominated)
Parliamentary appointments Office(s) Officeholder TermSpeaker of ParliamentAaron Mike Oquaye7 January 2017 – 6 January 2021Speaker of ParliamentAlban Bagbin 7 January 2021 - First Deputy Speaker of ParliamentJoseph Osei Owusu (MP)7 January 2017 – 6 January 2024Majority LeaderOsei Kyei Mensah Bonsu (MP)7 January 2017 – 21 February 2024Deputy Majority LeaderSarah Adwoa Safo (MP)7 January 2017 -Majority Chief WhipKwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh (MP)7 January 2017 -
Domestic affairs Education
The Free Secondary High School (Free SHS) education policy was introduced in the 2017 September. The policy was a part of the president's presidential campaign during the Ghana's 2016 election period, and has become an essential part of Ghana's educational system.Kyeremanteng, Harriet. (2016). Assessing stakeholder participation in policy formulation and implementation: The case study of the Free Senior High School Policy in Ghana. (PDF). The University of Ghana, Legon: pp.1-80. Retrieved 15 April 2020, from http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/bitstream/handle/123456789/30912/ Assessing Stakeholder Participation in Policy Formulation and Implementation- The Case Study of the Free Senior High School Policy in Ghana.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Economic impact Increase in enrolments since the implementation of the double track system
Mensah, D. (2019). Teachers’ Perspective on Implementation of the Double Track Senior High School System in Ghana. International Journal Of Emerging Trends In Social Sciences, 5(2), 47-56. pp. 47-56.