President Nana Akufo-Addo says he does not have the power and interest to impose any person on Ghanaians, to be elected as the next president in the December 7 polls.

“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.

The President said this when he addressed stakeholders including the clergy and the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, as part of his visit to the region.

President Akufo-Addo was in the region to thank the stakeholders for allowing him to lead the country for eight years and the cooperation and collaboration they offered him during his tenure of office, resulting in maintaining peace and security throughout the period.

He said considering the interventions of the government in the areas of road infrastructure, agriculture, education and health among others, he believed that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party would be in the best position to serve Ghana better by continuing the development trajectory of his government.

President Akufo-Addo eulogised Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as “a hard-working, honest, trustworthy man” with “deep knowledge, great experience in economic policy and management” and “a man of great loyalty,” following his nearly two decades of work with him.

President Akufo-Addo indicated that Dr Bawumia, as the Vice President, 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.

He explained that former President Mahama, the principal contender of Dr Bawumia, had been a president before but was rejected in 2016 and 2020 because he could not perform, hence the need for Ghanaians to reject him again.

President Akufo-Addo criticised John Mahama for earlier strongly opposing the Free Senior High School policy and the investments that were being made but now claimed that he would review and improve upon it when he comes to power.