AI Sentiment Analysis of Independence Day Speeches: A Comparative Study of the Speeches of Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo and John Dramani Mahama

This paper uses AI-driven sentiment analysis to examine the rhetorical tone of Ghanaian Independence Day speeches delivered by Presidents Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and John Dramani Mahama, employing the VADER (Valence Aware Dictionary and sEntiment Reasoner) model. The analysis reveals that Akufo-Addo’s speeches comprise 37.7% positive sentiment, 55.8% neutral, and 6.5% negative, with a focus on optimism and national pride. In contrast, Mahama’s speeches present a more varied sentiment profile, with 41.5% positive, 48.6% neutral, and 9.8% negative, addressing socio-economic challenges. These findings show how political leaders use sentiment to influence public conversations, highlighting VADER's usefulness in analysing political speeches in developing countries.