I’m ultimately responsible for every success and failure within my government– Akufo-Addo

President Nana Akufo-Addo has declared that the buck stops with him when it comes to the governance of the country.

Delivering the 2024 State of the Nations Address on the floor of parliament on Tuesday, President Akufo-Addo asserted that inputs as to the administration of the country are only at an advisory level and that the final decision rests with him.

“There is no ambiguity about where the buck stops, when it comes to responsibility for what happens in the government. It stops with the President; he or she has ultimate responsibility.”

“It would be an unwise President that would pretend to have all the answers, and refuse the advice of his officials, but the fact remains that the President holds the executive power.”

“The Cabinet, the Ministers of State all act in an advisory manner. Of course, a member of the government might take an idea, be it generated by the President or the official or a committee, and turn it into a huge success, and the honours would be claimed or shared where public perception falls. But, ultimately, the President is responsible, and, therefore, takes the credit or the blame for whatever happens in his or her government”, the President said.

President Akufo Addo’s statement comes in the wake of criticisms that the flagbearer of this party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has distanced himself from the economic woes facing the country.

Dr. Bawumia was slammed by his political opponents for delineating himself from the economic challenges facing the country during the launch of his 2024 policy agenda earlier this month.

In his speech, Dr. Bawumia, who stated he had agreed with the President to concentrate on the country’s digitization initiatives, argued that even as head of the Economic Management Team (EMT), he and his team only played an advisory role.