The outgoing president, Nana Akufo-Addo, delivered his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Friday, January 3, 2025.

He outlined the various initiatives he has undertaken over the past eight years to drive the country’s growth. However, some Ghanaians have expressed dissatisfaction with the president’s portrayal of the country’s current state.

Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Executive Director of The Ark Foundation and Chairperson of the Civic Forum Initiative, opined that Ghanaian presidents have, over the years, misunderstood the concept of the State of the Nation Address.

Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile, she explained that the purpose of SONA is for the president to inform the public about the true state of the country and to highlight how their policies and initiatives have impacted the nation.

It should not simply be a platform to boast about what the government has done without connecting those achievements to their broader impact on society.

“So far, what we’ve had is presidents touting the things they have done and highlighting the development they have achieved. However, I would have preferred that even if they did highlight some of their accomplishments, they would also explain what these developments mean for the country’s future,” she said.

She gave an example: “If you say, ‘I’ve been able to do Agenda 111 but I haven’t completed it,’ we must view it in the broader context of the health sector. That way, you can explain how the initiative contributes to the larger goal for the sector. Similarly, when discussing education, it's not just about listing achievements, but also about addressing the broader outlook for education as you present the state of the nation.”

According to Dwamena-Aboagye, she was disappointed with the president’s address because it focused more on his administration’s achievements rather than providing an accurate picture of the nation’s current state.

“I was a bit disappointed because I didn’t hear the true state of the nation; instead, I heard more about what has been accomplished under my administration,” she said.

She added, “This is not just something unique to Akufo-Addo. I think this has been happening for some time, and we need to address it. If it's a State of the Nation, it should be about the state of the nation.”

Dr Dwamena-Aboagye advised that presidents should use other platforms to discuss their accomplishments, rather than using the SONA for that purpose. “Use other opportunities available to you as president to address what you have achieved. There are many opportunities for that,” she said.

She further argued that while presidents use the nation’s resources to implement their policies, this does not necessarily provide a full picture of the state of the nation or the sectors they are addressing.