However, he said, as an 80-year-old man, having served two consecutive terms as president, he is in the position to advise on which of the presidential candidates should succeed him.
Addressing the clergy and the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs in Wa, the President said “As President, I cannot impose anybody on you. I don’t have the power, and I don’t have the interest. Just as I was elected, the next person to stand here in my shoes will also be elected by the people of Ghana.
“But I believe that as an 80-year-old man who has been a two-term President of Ghana and who has been involved in a lot of Ghana’s recent history, certainly in the history of the Fourth Republic, I am in a good position to advise who should come and stand in my shoes,” he stated.
He indicated that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is in the best position to continue the government’s intervention in the areas of road infrastructure, agriculture, education and health among others.
Eulogising the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after working with him for nearly 20 years, he described Bawumia as “a hard-working, honest, trustworthy man” with “deep knowledge, great experience in economic policy and management” and “a man of great loyalty.”
As Vice President, President Akufo-Addo said Dr. Bawumia had been “deeply involved” in virtually all the policies his government had rolled out and was, therefore, ready to continue with them to ensure the expected success.