The Politics of Timing: A Rhetorical Analysis of Kairos and Kronos in the Health Policies in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's State of the Nation Address

This study examines how President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana employs kairos and kronos in conveying his health policies to the public. The dataset for the study were qualitative documents retrieved from the official website of the presidency. A rhetorical analysis approach to analyse President Akufo-Addo’s health policies captured in the State of the Nation Addresses from 2017 to 2023. The analysis of the data revealed that President Akufo-Addo’s strategic use of kairos to give timely addresses during health crises, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, showcased his leadership and responsiveness, reinforcing the importance of preparedness and effective public health responses. Again, the study found that President Akufo-Addo did not have a chronological order of presenting aspects of his addresses. However, he prioritised any issues of great concern first before others. It is recommended that future research in presidential rhetoric and health communication should consider analysing public reception and perceptions after being exposed to the health policies of President Akufo-Addo.