Early Life and Education
Born on March 29, 1944, in Swalaba, Accra, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo hails from a prominent political family. His father, Edward Akufo-Addo, served as Ghana’s third Chief Justice and ceremonial President from 1970 to 1972. Nana Addo is related to three of Ghana’s “Big Six”—J.B. Danquah (grand uncle), William Ofori Atta (uncle), and Edward Akufo-Addo (father). His childhood home in Accra was a hub for the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), Ghana’s first political party, formed in 1947.
Nana Addo attended Government Boys School and Rowe Road School in Accra before heading to the UK for his O-Level and A-Level education. In 1962, he returned to Ghana to teach at Accra Academy before studying Economics at the University of Ghana. After graduating, he pursued law in the UK, being called to the English Bar (Middle Temple) in 1971 and the Ghana Bar in 1975.
He is married to Rebecca Akufo-Addo, daughter of Justice J.H. Griffiths-Randolph, former Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, and they have five children and five grandchildren. Both are devout Christians.
Legal and Business Career
Nana Addo spent five years in France working with the international law firm Coudert Brothers, gaining experience in global corporate transactions and becoming fluent in French. Upon returning to Ghana in 1975, he joined U.V. Campbell’s chambers before co-founding Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co. in 1979, one of Ghana’s premier law firms.
Through his legal career, Nana Addo championed human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, often offering free legal services to the underprivileged. He handled landmark constitutional cases protecting judicial independence, free speech, and the right to protest. Many prominent Ghanaian lawyers, including Justice Sophia Akuffo and Minister Ursula Owusu, trained at his firm.
He also held significant roles in business and advocacy, including chairing DHL Ghana, Kinesec Communications, and the Ghana Committee on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Notably, he facilitated the introduction of mobile telephony in Ghana.
Political Career
In his early 30s, Nana Addo served as General Secretary of the People’s Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ), a group that led the “No” campaign against the military-backed UNIGOV system in 1978. His activism, often at great personal risk, contributed to the restoration of multiparty democracy in 1979.
In 1991, he co-founded the Danquah-Busia Memorial Club, which evolved into the grassroots base of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He served as the NPP’s first National Organizer in 1992 and led the campaign of its first presidential candidate, Prof. Adu Boahen. In 1995, he spearheaded the famous “Kume Preko” demonstrations against economic hardships.
Elected as Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South (1996–2008), Nana Addo served as Attorney-General and later Foreign Minister under President John Kufuor. As Attorney-General, he repealed the Criminal Libel Law, enabling Ghana’s media to flourish as one of Africa’s freest. As Foreign Minister, he played a pivotal role in ECOWAS peace efforts and chaired several AU and UN bodies, earning Ghana recognition on the global stage.
Presidential Ambition
Nana Addo first sought the NPP’s presidential candidacy in 1998 but lost to John Kufuor. He became the NPP’s flagbearer in 2007, narrowly losing the 2008 presidential election to John Atta Mills in a historic runoff. He contested again in 2012 against John Mahama but accepted the Supreme Court’s decision on the disputed results, demonstrating statesmanship.
In 2016, Nana Addo won an overwhelming 94.35% of votes in the NPP primaries and subsequently secured the presidency with 53.85% of the national vote, becoming Ghana’s fifth President under the Fourth Republic.
Legacy
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is celebrated as a defender of democracy, human rights, and free speech. His dedication to peace and development continues to shape Ghana’s political and legal landscape.
