Ghana makes democratic progress as Akufo-Addo takes over as President

Ghana is today making another clear statement to the rest of the world that it’s democratic process is here to stay as the country makes further strides when President-elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been inaugurated into office.

President Kwame Nkrumah became Ghana’s first president after he led the independence struggle from British rule. The country became independent on March 7, 1957 and he subsequently took over the leadership of the country.

But after nine years, he was overthrown in a coup by both the military and police, while he was out of the country.

Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, became the next elected into office as Prime Minister from 1969 to 1972 when he was overthrown in a military coup.

The regime of the Supreme Military Council II was subsequently overthrown in a military coup in 1979.

Then in that same year, Dr. Hilla Limann was elected as President. But on December 31, 1981, he was overthrown in another military coup.

Ghana stayed under a military regime until 1992, when a Constitution came into effect and Ghana elected military leader turned civilian, Jerry John Rawlings into office.

Rawlings however, handed over to John Kufuor in 2001, after serving two terms.

President Kufuor served his full two terms and then handed over to the Late Prof. John Atta Mills, who died while in office in July 2012 and his Vice-President John Mahama took over, till elections were held in December of the same year, which he won.

He however, lost after serving only one-term, making him the first elected president of Ghana to lose his seat just after four years, making Nana Akufo-Addo the first opposition leader to defeat a sitting elected president in an election.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi