President Akufo-Addo has said that there are no shortcuts for the progress and prosperity of the country.

Addressing the nation on Thursday, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the referendum that approved the 1992 Constitution, the President pointed out that “only hard work, creativity, innovation, a sense of enterprise and unity in the nation can produce the accelerated economic development that we all yearn for.”

President Akufo-Addo expressed how elated he is on the marking of the 30^th anniversary of the 1992 Constitution as President.

“I am proud to say that I believe strongly in the values and principles of the constitution that emerged from the referendum and in the ingenious democracy heritage of Ghana,” he said.

He also called on Ghanaians to share vigorously, the same belief he shares about democracy.

“We should never forget though that the Constitution is a living document, and so whatever circumstances required, we should be prepared to make the necessary amendment to it to effect the needs of contemporary times and future times,” he added.

He also noted that the democratic system of governance practiced in the country has been good for Ghanaians.

This, he said is because “it has removed the specter of instability that plagued the country’s early years.”

President Akufo-Addo further urged Ghanaians to renew their trust in democracy, and bear in mind at all times, the oft-cited statement, that “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.”

“I say so because there are some, who for their own parochial and selfish interests, would want to see a return to the dark days of authoritarian rule, simply because, with no respect for the Ghanaian people, they are either unwilling to subject themselves or their vision to the open scrutiny of the Ghanaian people, or because they know they will be rejected by the Ghanaian people and, thus, seek a shortcut to office and power. Let us strengthen our resolve to resist such persons for our own common good,” he said. 

The President stated that, despite all the gains made in the 4th Republic, Ghanaians must acknowledge that the country has not reached the potential she should have.

“The biggest challenge we face continues to be eradicating poverty. We still have challenges in the performance of our public services; we face threats, traditional and contemporary, to our nation’s security and social stability, in the form of chieftaincy conflicts, land disputes, ethnic conflicts, cyber security issues, youth unemployment, economic hardships, and corruption in our public life,” he added.

He stressed, nonetheless that, “the basic commitment to resolving these challenges, within the framework of due process and democratic institutions, must remain unshaken. And, I am confident that, God-willing, we will overcome these challenges.”