Mahama's 2016 SoNA address changes man's life

Naturally, every one would like to strive to do something desirable and valuable and this is where motivation is needed to help change the way we think or feel for

us to gain valued outcomes to enhance our wellbeing and sense of purpose.

Motivation and inspiration will also help us to take corrective actions to allow us to adapt, function productively, and maintain our wellbeing in the face of a constantly changing stream of opportunities and threats.

And this kind of stimulus is exactly what happened in Parliament on February 25, 2016, during the State of Nation (SoNA) address delivered by President John Dramani Mahama which is believed to be one of the best in the history of the Republic of Ghana.

In his address, President John Mahama mentioned that the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme had been expanded to 144,980 beneficiary households which has helped beneficiaries to not only address their critical needs, but also invested in income-generating ventures that supplemented family finances.

He said that 42-year old LEAP beneficiary, Zenabu Sumaila, from Ninkogo in the Pusiga District of the Upper East Region invested her grant into pig farming. She started with only one piglet and had more than 10 at the time the SoNA address was being read.

46-year old Kofi Sammy Adjei of Subi, a village in the Kwaebibirem District of the Eastern Region was motivated by the story of Zenabu Sumaila as read by H.E. John Dramani Mahama and decided to go into piggery too. He started with just two piglets which have produced over 113 pigs.

Through this, Kofi Sammy has been able to buy 8 plots of land to expand his piggery project and has also bought a tricycle popularly known as Pragyia to run a commercial transport business.

Sammy says even though President Mahama does not know that someone at a village has benefitted from his SoNA address, he wants to take the opportunity to thank him for helping to changed his life.

And that he is praying for H.E. John Mahama to win this year's presidential election with a massive majority seats in Parliament for him to continue his policies especially in the area of agriculture to help the people of Ghana come out of poverty.

Anthony Obeng Afrane