Africa Bar Association Confers Medal of Merit in Leadership Award on President Akufo-Addo
Pretoria, South Africa – The Africa Bar Association has honored President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with the prestigious Medal of Merit in Leadership Award at its 2023 Annual Conference. The award recognizes President Akufo-Addo’s exceptional leadership qualities and his commitment to good governance and pan-Africanism.
Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, the President of the Africa Bar Association, commended President Akufo-Addo for his dedication to fighting corruption and his role as a true African statesman. Uwaifo stated that President Akufo-Addo’s legacies will serve as an inspiration for future African leaders.
Expressing his gratitude for the award, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged the significant role lawyers have played in Africa’s history, particularly in the fight for independence from colonial rule. He emphasized the need for African countries to define their own narrative and trade among themselves to unlock their economic potential.
President Akufo-Addo highlighted the low levels of intra-African trade, accounting for only 3% of global trade, as a major obstacle to Africa’s development. He praised the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a historic opportunity for Africa to strengthen intra-African trade and stimulate economic growth. Ghana is privileged to host the AfCFTA Secretariat.
With a population of 1.3 billion and a collective GDP of three trillion US dollars, Africa has the potential to become an attractive investment destination and the eighth-largest economy globally. President Akufo-Addo emphasized the importance of investment in sustaining economic growth and creating job opportunities for the continent’s youth.
The President projected that the AfCFTA could increase intra-Africa trade by $35 billion annually and reduce external imports by $10 billion. This would benefit small businesses, lift millions out of poverty, and diversify Africa’s industrial exports away from extractive commodities.
However, President Akufo-Addo stressed that peace and stability are prerequisites for reaping the benefits of the AfCFTA. He called for unity in combatting the terrorist insurgency in West Africa, which threatens the region’s peace and stability.
The President also reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to democratic governance and the rejection of unconstitutional changes of government. He urged governments and businesses to demonstrate bold leadership in realizing the vision of Africa’s industrialization and transformation.
The Africa Bar Association’s Medal of Merit in Leadership Award recognizes President Akufo-Addo’s outstanding contributions to Africa’s development and his unwavering commitment to good governance and pan-Africanism.