Franklin Cudjoe, Nana Addo, Afenyo-Markin share warm moments at political lecture

A notable encounter between former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and policy thinker Franklin Cudjoe has set social media abuzz following a public lecture in Accra.

The two personalities were spotted in a warm exchange at an event organised by the Institute for Economic Research and Public Policy, which featured a lecture titled “The Centre-Right Impact on Ghana’s Political Landscape.”

“Good to see you, Cudjoe. It has been a while,” the former president was heard saying to Cudjoe.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. President. I will be visiting you at home soon,” Cudjoe responded warmly.

Akufo-Addo acknowledged the gesture, replying: “Please do, we need to catch up.”

The former president also expressed appreciation to Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who served as the guest speaker for the event. Hon. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman chaired the occasion.

Afenyo-Markin’s address has since garnered praise for its depth and delivery. Observers described the speech as well-researched and effectively communicated, achieving its objective of illuminating the principles of centre-right governance.

The Majority Leader drew exclusively on positive examples from the administrations of former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo to illustrate centre-right philosophy in practice.

He challenged perceptions that the tradition represents an elitist group focused solely on comfort, arguing instead that its initiatives have been intentionally universal—catering to the common man with programmes designed to provide opportunities for full societal participation.

Afenyo-Markin’s personal anecdotes resonated strongly with attendees, making the ideological discussion relatable to everyday Ghanaians.

In a particularly compelling segment of his lecture, the Majority Leader traced the evolution of property ownership from the First Industrial Revolution’s physical assets to digital property rights in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He explained how this evolution, enabled by the Internet of Things and now powered by artificial intelligence, forms the basis for wealth creation and enterprise in the modern era.

He anchored the centre-right philosophy on four fundamental tenets: the rule of law, personal liberty, free markets, and property rights—describing these as essential tools for ensuring human flourishing.

The event brought together political figures, policy analysts, and members of the public for what many described as an enlightening discourse on political ideology and governance.

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