By Frank Amponsah
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has promised to work with the newly-elected Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Alban Bagbin to advance the peace, progress and prosperity of the Ghanaian people.
In his inaugural address shortly after taking the oath of office for his second term as President yesterday Nana Akufo-Addo congratulated Mr. Bagbin, who had been his colleague lawmaker for years, on his elevation to the position of Speaker.
President Akufo-Addo also pledged before Parliament and the good people of Ghana that all he will do will be for the common good, and, with the firm foundation laid in his first term of office take a significant step towards reducing the infrastructure deficit that has plagued the country throughout their nationhood.
Nana Akufo-Addo said: “I must, at the outset, express my warm congratulations to my good friend and colleague of many years in this House, the Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, on his assumption of office as the Speaker of the Eighth Parliament of the 4th Republic. Nearly three decades of devoted service to Parliament by you has culminated in this moment, which has seen your elevation to the third great office of state of our nation. Together, you and I will be chartering new territory in the governance and politics of the 4th Republic, for this is the first time in the life of this Republic that a President from one party will be obliged, by the exigencies of the moment and the will of the people, to work, in all sincerity and co-operation, with a Speaker of Parliament from another party.”
Nana Akufo-Addo expressed confidence that “both of us will be guided in our relationship by the supreme interest of our people in ensuring good governance in the ordering of the affairs of state.”
“I want to assure you of my wholehearted determination to work with you to advance the peace, progress and prosperity of the Ghanaian people. Once again, many congratulations to you and the re-elected and new Members of Parliament,” the President added.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has also declared 2021 as another year of roads to complete some developmental projects his administration began during his first term in office.
The president further indicated that the declaration of 2021 as the year of roads is aimed at solving the issue of poor road networks in the country.
President Nana Akufo-Addo said, “Our roads are being constructed at a faster pace than before, and yes, there are still many more kilometer’s to construct. We defined last year as the year of roads. This year will be the second year of roads as we continue with our focus on dealing with the deficits of our road infrastructure.”
As part of measures put in place for the country to witness infrastructural development, President Akufo-Addo pledged to revamp the railway sector.
“The development of our rail sector on which considerable resources and energies are being devoted will open up the country and also help realize the goal of regional and continental integration.”
He also promised to make sure Ghanaians without potable water are provided same.
“The percentage of Ghanaians without access to potable water is said to be reduced significantly, following the commencement of water projects across the country. The majority of Ghanaians live in unacceptable housing, and we shall tackle the problem with vigour,” he added.
He also announced plans by his administration to extend electricity to communities without electricity in his second term, promising to extend access to portable drinking water to communities that lack good drinking water.
He further pledged to serve and build on the firm of his first term.
“I pledge before this august House and the good people of Ghana that all I do will be for the common good, and, with the firm foundation laid in my first term of office, we shall take a significant step towards reducing the infrastructure deficit that has plagued us all throughout our nationhood.”
