Gabby Otchere-Darko confident Ghanaians will recognize Akufo-Addo’s achievements after 2025
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed strong confidence that Ghanaians will fully appreciate President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s leadership once he leaves office in 2025.
Speaking in an interview on Accra-based Channel One TV’s Face to Face program, Gabby Otchere-Darko reflected on the challenges faced during Akufo-Addo’s administration, emphasizing that the true impact of his leadership will be better understood and valued in hindsight.
Mr. Otchere-Darko acknowledged the economic difficulties currently facing Ghana, which have been exacerbated by global challenges. However, he stressed that despite these hurdles, the Akufo-Addo administration has made significant strides, particularly in the area of infrastructure development. He believes that when Ghanaians have the chance to look back and assess the President’s tenure, they will recognize the far-reaching benefits of his policies and initiatives.
A key focus of Otchere-Darko’s remarks was the progress made in the healthcare sector during Akufo-Addo’s time in office. He highlighted that, in the Fourth Republic, no other government has matched the level of infrastructural development seen under Akufo-Addo’s leadership.
He pointed to the expansion of healthcare facilities, the strengthening of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and the employment of a significant number of healthcare professionals as major achievements.
“If you consider the challenges of leadership, the challenges of managing an economy such as ours and those challenges being compounded by the global challenges that faced them, I think when Ghanaians sit back, and analyse his period, after he’s gone, they will appreciate the Akufo-Addo’s presidency. When you are in there, you can’t really see that much.
“Take a few sectors, health, I can say boldly, based on numbers, that in the 4th Republic, no government has been able to do the kind of things we have witnessed under Akufo-Addo’s presidency. Within the health sector alone, in terms of facilities, in terms of that amazing thing that former President J.A Kufuor built, the National Health Insurance Scheme, where he has taken it.
“In terms of personnel, over the last seven to eight years, over 2,000 people have been employed in the health sector. Look at the number of doctors employed over the last few years, I believe over 22,000, nurses about 165,000 or so.
Otchere-Darko also highlighted the progress of the Agenda 111 initiative, an ambitious project aimed at building 111 hospitals across the country. He noted that nearly 95% of these hospitals are at least 65% complete, a testament to the government’s commitment to enhancing the nation’s healthcare system.
“Almost 95% of them are at 65% of the completion stage,” he said.
Reflecting on the broader context of Akufo-Addo’s presidency, Otchere-Darko argued that the challenges of leadership and managing an economy like Ghana’s, especially in the face of global difficulties, make it difficult for people to fully appreciate the administration’s efforts in real time.
He believes that once Akufo-Addo leaves office and people have the opportunity to assess his leadership without the pressures of current events, they will come to value his contributions to Ghana’s development.
As the 2024 general elections approach, Otchere-Darko’s comments appear to be part of a broader effort by the NPP to highlight the successes of the Akufo-Addo administration and position the party as the best choice to continue leading the country.
