Yaw Nyarko Hosts Presidential Town Hall with Ghana’s President H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo

June 9, 2017

On June 9th, 2017, I moderated a Town Hall Meeting with H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana.

On his first official trip to the United States as President of the Republic of Ghana, Akufo-Addo highlighted the importance of African countries charting their own trajectory for social and economic development. President Akufo-Addo emphasized involving Ghanaians in the Diaspora in political decision-making, attracting investments, and encouraging competitive bidding for public funded development projects.

During the Town Hall, President Akufo-Addo highlighted aspects of his vision for the country, building a “Ghana beyond aid, a Ghana that will free itself from a mindset of dependency of … charity and handouts. The Ghana that is going to mobilize its own resources to develop and confront its own problems. We are capable of it. We have the means to do it.”

Welcome remarks were delivered by NYU Senior Vice Provost, Dr. Cybele Raver. The Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations, Hon. Mrs. Martha Ama Akyaa Pobe, and I also addressed the audience prior to the presidential keynote address delivered by President Akufo-Addo.

The program, hosted by NYU Africa House in collaboration with the Ghana Consulate New York, brought together a diverse group of more than 450 attendees including Ghanaians in the Diaspora, diplomats, business leaders and investors, faculty, and students to engage with the president during the program.

President Akufo-Addo was accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation; and Gender, Child, and Social Protection.

Following the program, President Akufo-Addo answered questions from the audience.