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John Kufuor

John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor (born 8 December 1938) [1] is a Ghanaian politician who served as the President of Ghana from 7 January 2001 to 7 January 2009.[2] He became the Chairperson of the African Union from 2007 to 2008 and his victory over John Evans Atta Mills at the end of Jerry Rawlings' second term marked the first transition of power in Ghana from a democratic government to another democratic government.[3]

John Kufuor
Kufuor in 2008
President of Ghana
In office
7 January 2001 – 7 January 2009
Vice PresidentAliu Mahama
Preceded byJerry Rawlings
Succeeded byJohn Atta Mills
5th Chairperson of the African Union
In office
30 January 2007 – 31 January 2008
Preceded byDenis Sassou Nguesso
Succeeded byJakaya Kikwete
Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya
In office
24 September 1979 – 31 December 1981
In office
1 October 1969 – 13 January 1972
Personal details
Born
John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor

(1938-12-08) 8 December 1938 (age 85)
Kumasi, Colony of the Gold Coast
Political partyNew Patriotic Party
Spouse
(m. 1962; died 2023)
Relations
Children5
Alma materOsei Tutu Boarding School
Prempeh College
Lincoln's Inn
Exeter College, Oxford
Profession
  • Lawyer
  • Businessman
  • Politician

Kufuor's career has been spent on the liberal-democratic[4] side of Ghanaian politics, in the parties descended from the United Gold Coast Convention and the United Party.[5]

As a lawyer and businessman, he was a minister in Kofi Abrefa Busia's Progress Party government[6] during Ghana's Second Republic, and a Popular Front Party opposition frontbencher during the Third Republic. In the Fourth Republic Kufuor stood as the New Patriotic Party's candidate at the 1996 election, and then led it to victory in 2000 and 2004. Having served two terms in power, he retired from politics in 2008. He is popularly known as the Gentle Giant.[7]

Early life and schooling edit

 
John and Theresa Kufuor (2008)

The scion of a royal and aristocratic maternal lineage, John Kufuor was born in Daaban a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, and started his primary and elementary school at the Kumasi Government School located in Asem built by Sir Gordon Guggisberg. Kufuor was the 7th of 10 children of Nana Kwadwo Agyekum, an Asante royal, and Nana Ama Dapaah, a Queen Mother.[citation needed]

In 1951, he continued his primary (then called 'standard' three) education at Osei Tutu Boarding School (Osei Tutu Senior High School) from 1951 to 1953.[8] At Prempeh College from 1954 to 1958, he schooled from Form 1 to Form 5. Arriving in London on 30 April 1959, he was by June accepted into Lincoln's Inn, London (1959–61) to study law, becoming qualified as a barrister in one year and eight months. He was called to the London bar in 1961. In the following year, he was called to the bar in Ghana before going on to Oxford University, graduating from Exeter College, in 1964.[9]

He was initially employed at the Ghana Commercial Bank in London as a manager and legal officer. He returned to Ghana in the year 1965 at the behest of his mother who (having already bought a first-class ticket for his return) wished him to practice in Africa. He practiced in the Chambers of Victor Owusu with another lawyer, Owusu Yaw.[citation needed]

In 1966, he became the town clerk of Kumasi City Council [now Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly]. In the Second Republic's Parliamentary register, Kufuor lists his hobbies and interests as table tennis, reading, football, and film shows.[10] He was once the chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club.[11]

Early political career edit

After completing his education, Kufuor returned to Ghana and launched his political career. In 1967, he became chief legal officer and town clerk for the city of Kumasi. By 1969, he was a member of Parliament and deputy foreign minister in the government of Kofi Abrefa Busia.[12]

Kufuor served as the Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya[13] in the Second (1969–72) and Third (1979–81) Republics. He is a founding member of the Progress Party which was established in Busia's house.[14]

As Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, he represented Ghana on a number of occasions. From 1969 to December 1971, he led Ghana's delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Ministerial Meetings in Addis Ababa, and the Summit Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in Lusaka. In 1970 he led the Ghanaian delegation to Moscow in the Soviet Union, Prague (Czechoslovakia), and Belgrade (Yugoslavia) to discuss Ghana's indebtedness to these countries.

As the Spokesman on Foreign Affairs and Deputy Opposition Leader of the Popular Front Party (PFP) Parliamentary Group during the Third Republic, he was invited to accompany President Hilla Limann to the OAU Summit Conference in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He was also a member of the parliamentary delegation that visited the United States in 1981 to talk to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank on Ghana's economic problems.

In January 1982, the leadership of the All People's Party (APP), which was an alliance of all the opposition parties, advised some leading members, including the Deputy Leader of the Alliance, Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama, the general secretary, Dr Obed Asamoah and Kufuor, to accept an invitation from the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) to serve in what was purported to be a National Government. Kufuor was appointed the Secretary for Local Government in this new government.[15]

As a Secretary for Local Government, he wrote the Local Government Policy Guidelines that were to be the foundation of the current decentralized District Assemblies.[16]

Elections edit

 
John Kufuor at the 2008 World Economic Forum on Africa

On 20 April 1996 Kufuor was nominated by 1034 out of 2000 delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) drawn from all the 200 Constituencies of the Country to run for the president of Ghana on 10 December 1996. After campaigning for less than nine months, Kufuor polled 39.62% of the popular votes to Rawlings' 57% in the 1996 election. On 23 October 1998 he was re-nominated by the New Patriotic Party not only to run again for president but also to officially assume the position of Leader of the Party.[17]

Kufuor won the presidential election of December 2000; in the first round, held on 7 December, Kufuor came in first place with 48.4%, while John Atta-Mills, Jerry Rawlings' Vice-president, came in second with 44.8%, forcing the two into a run-off vote. In the second round, held on 28 December, Kufuor was victorious, taking 56.9% of the vote. When Kufuor was sworn in on 7 January 2001,[18] it marked the first time in Ghana's history that an incumbent government had peaceful transition of power to the opposition.

Kufuor was re-elected in presidential and parliamentary elections held on 7 December 2004, earning 52.45% of the popular vote in the first round and thus avoiding a run-off,[19] while at the same time Kufuor's party, the New Patriotic Party, was able to secure more seats in the Parliament of Ghana.[20]

Presidency edit

 
Kufuor with United States President George W. Bush during a visit to the US in 2001
 
Kufuor with President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2005
 
At the 33rd G8 summit in Heiligendamm in 2007 (Kufuor in front second from left)

His administration's domestic policy in the first term was marked by fiscal and monetary stringency on the economic front, aimed at stabilizing a national economy that had stagnated and was in decline. His social vision was focused on unleashing the entrepreneurial, creative and innovative potential of Ghanaians as a means of creating wealth and hence dealing with the social challenges facing them. This socio-economic vision was encapsulated in the Five Priority Areas Programme, viz., the pursuit of good governance, modernization of agriculture for rural development, private sector participation, enhanced social services and vigorous infrastructure development. His administration is said to have received the most financial assistance in the history of Ghana, due essentially to donors' distrust for the military governments before it, as well as those with some military connections.

Kufuor's foreign policy was underpinned by what he termed "economic diplomacy". It is within this context that in Africa in general and in West Africa in particular, a good neighbourliness policy has been pursued, which saw Ghana under Kufuor brokering peace in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau, among other African states. On the global stage, Kufuor actively sought the establishment of a just and equitable international social and economic order, while promoting and safeguarding the interests of Ghana through bilateral and multilateral agreements. His stature as statesman, democrat and credible spokesman for Africa found expression in his invitation to major international meetings and conferences including the founding summit of the AU, G8 Summits in Sea Island, Georgia and Glenneagles, Scotland, and the World Economic Forum.

He served as chairman of the regional grouping ECOWAS for two consecutive terms – 2003 and 2004.[21] In 2007, due to the policy successes his administration chalked up, Kufuor had his mandate renewed in 2004 and was sworn into office on 7 January 2005. Policy direction in Kufuor's second presidential term built on the foundations laid in the first four years. The administration pursued Ghana's socio-economic transformation in the second term, using the three-pronged approach of private-sector development, human resource development and good governance. At the international level, Kufuor consolidated Ghana's position as the voice of Africa, credible peace broker, beacon of democracy (Ghana was the first country to undergo Peer Review under NEPAD's Africa Peer Review Mechanism) and responsible member of the comity[spelling?] of nations.

On 29 January 2007, Kufuor was elected as Chairperson of the African Union for the 2007–08 AU session. He was succeeded by Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania on 31 January 2008.[22] Kufuor was involved in a car accident during his presidency on 14 November 2007, in which another car collided with his, causing it to roll over several times. Kufuor was reported to be uninjured.[23]

Health edit

He started the National Health Insurance Scheme to replace the existent cash-and-carry system;[24] 11 million Ghanaians were registered under this scheme. He set up the National Ambulance Service and built more than 205 hospitals and clinics.[25] He also built a state-of-the-art emergency centre at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.[26] Kufuor also introduced free maternal health care in public hospitals for all expectant mothers.[27]

Education edit

Kufuor institutionalised the capitation grant for school children at the basic level, whereby each student was entitled to $2 for cultural sports and development. He also started the national school feeding programme. He changed the Senior Secondary School curriculum from three years to four years and renamed it Senior High School. He started the model school senior high school concept, in which some deprived schools were upgraded to the level of some first-class senior high schools.[28]

Access to finance edit

Kufuor launched the Microfinance and small loans program (MASLOC) – a US$50 million fund that makes micro loans available to the productive population – and introduced the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty Program (LEAP), which provides direct cash transfers to poor households in the country who could not support themselves. For the first time in Ghana's history, borrowing became so cheap and available that microfinance companies (and major banks) actually went on to the streets to encourage small-scale businessmen and women to apply for loans.[29][30]

Sports edit

He renovated the Accra Sports Stadium and the Baba Yara Stadium as well as built the Essipong and Tamale stadium in 2008 to host the CAN 2008.[31] Under Kufuor Ghana qualified for the World Cup in 2006.[32]

President Kufuor's good governance policy led to Ghana obtaining a record $500 million grant from the U.S Millennium Challenge Account for economic development. The social vision behind the grant was anchored on unleashing the entrepreneurial, creative and innovative potential of Ghanaians as a means of creating wealth and hence dealing with the social challenges facing Ghanaians. This socio-economic vision was encapsulated in the Five Priority Areas Programme vis the pursuit of good governance, modernisation of agriculture for rural development, private sector participation, enhanced social services and vigorous infrastructural development. The George Walker Bush Highway was also built from this fund.[33]

Personal life edit

Kufuor at the age of 23 married Theresa Kufuor (née Mensah) in 1962 after they met at a Republic Day Anniversary Dance in London in 1961;[7] they have five children together. Kufuor and his family belong to the Roman Catholic Church. He is a Senior Grand Warden of the United Grand Lodge of England Freemasons,[34] and has openly professed his membership as a Freemason since being a young lawyer.[35] An Asante, Kufuor speaks the Twi language fluently. He was known for using his language whenever he was campaigning in his native Ashanti Region. Kufuor and his family reside in Accra, Ghana's capital. His wife, Theresa Kufuor, died on Sunday, 1st October 2023.[36][37][38]

Post-presidency edit

In July 2009, Kufuor became a member of the SNV Netherlands Development Organization International Advisory Board to contribute his expertise to the organization's poverty reduction work.[39] In September 2009, Kufuor spoke in the Netherlands at a Dutch government event to mark '60 years of development aid' at the invitation of Dutch Minister Bert Koenders, which was attended by nearly 2,000 people. During his visit to the Netherlands, he was interviewed by the newspaper NRC Handelsblad and the Internationale Samenwerking magazine. He argued for the importance of effective development assistance, pointing out that development aid helped Ghana enter the international capital market.[40]

On 21 September 2009, he delivered the prestigious Legatum Pericles Lecture at the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[41] Kufuor is the Governing Council Chairman of Interpeace, an international peacebuilding organisation based in Geneva since October 2009. Also in 2009, he served on the High Level Commission on the Modernization of World Bank Group Governance, which – under the leadership of Ernesto Zedillo – conducted an external review of the World Bank Group's governance.[42]

Kufuor was chosen together with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to jointly receive the 2011 World Food Prize for their personal commitment and visionary leadership while serving as the presidents of Ghana and of Brazil, respectively, in creating and implementing government policies to alleviate hunger and poverty in their countries. The foundation said the significant achievements of these two Laureates illustrate that transformational leadership truly can effect positive change and greatly improve people's lives.[43]

On 20 September 2011, Kufuor inaugurated the John Agyekum Kufuor (JAK) Foundation with a ground-breaking ceremony for the JAK Centre for Leadership, Governance and Development at the University of Ghana, Legon. The inaugural lecture, which attracted very high local and foreign dignitaries, had Horst Köhler, former president of Germany, as its guest speaker. Thabo Mbeki, former president of South Africa, and Ghana ex-president Jerry John Rawlings, Kufuor's fiercest critic, were among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony. The ex-presidents also unveiled a plaque on 22 September 2011 for the Kufuor Presidential Library and Museum at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, which formed part of the John A. Kufuor Foundation.[44] In September 2018 the foundation set up the Kufuor Young Entrepreneurs Network (K-YEN). This initiative supports and develops young entrepreneurs to excel in their endeavors.[45]

In October 2011, Kufuor received the 2011 World Food Prize, along with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for his personal commitment and visionary leadership while serving as the president of Ghana, and in creating and implementing government policies to alleviate hunger and poverty in his country.[43]

Since November 2011, Kufuor has been the first high-level chair of the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership.[46]

Numerous NPP supporters tried to barricade President Kufuor's house on 7 January 2013 to prevent him from attending John Dramani Mahama's inauguration, which the NPP as a party had decided to boycott as they felt going would undermine their challenge to Mahama's win in court. Kufuor explained that the party had allowed him to go because he was invited as an ex-President of Ghana and not as a Member of the NPP to the chagrin of the supporters. The Ghana Police Service (GPS) reinforcement had to be sent to his abode to allow him to be able to go for the programme.[47]

In September 2017, the George Grant University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) appointed Kufour as the first Chancellor of the university,[48] the appointment taking effect from 1 November 2017. The Investiture of was held in January 2018.[49]

Awards and accolades edit

Kufuor has received numerous awards, including the Face-of-Good-Governance Award, Chatham House Prize, the Climate Change Award, and the World Food Program's Global Ambassador Against Hunger.[50]

Foreign Honours edit

  United Kingdom:

  Liberia:

Bibliography edit

  • Ivor Agyeman-Duah: Between Faith and History: A Biography of J. A. Kufuor (Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, 2003, ISBN 1-59221-128-3). Oxfordshire: Ayebia Clarke Publishing, 2006. ISBN 978-0-9547023-9-7.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "John Kufuor | Biography, Education, & Facts | Britannica". britannica. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  2. ^ "John Agyekum Kufuor, Biography". ghanaweb. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Ghana - Independence, Gold Coast, Kwame Nkrumah | Britannica". britannica. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  4. ^ "John Agyekum Kufuor, Biography". ghanaweb. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  5. ^ "John Agyekum Kufuor, Biography". ghanaweb. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  6. ^ "John Kufuor | Biography, Education, & Facts | Britannica". britannica. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  7. ^ a b "How Kufuor met his wife and married at age 23 - MyJoyOnline.com". myjoyonline. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  8. ^ "John Kufuor - President of Ghana". worldpresidentsdb. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Dr John Kufuor". exeter.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  10. ^ . ghanaweb. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  11. ^ "John Kufuor". World economic forum. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  12. ^ "29 August 1969: Progress Party wins elections to form government of the 2nd Republic". Edward A. Ulzen Memorial Foundation. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Chief Kufuor eyes Atwima Nwabiagya seat". Modern Ghana. 6 September 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Today Is Kufour's 84th Birthday; Check Out This Brief Biography Of Kufour - NewsGhana24". Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  15. ^ "John Agyekum Kufuor". World leaders Forum. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Secretary for Local Government". Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  17. ^ "President of Ghana John Kufuor". Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Kufuor, John". clubmadrid.
  19. ^ "Former President Agyekum Kufuor turns 82 today". ghanaweb. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Elections in Ghana". Africanelections tripod. from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  21. ^ "ECOWAS creates peace fund, retains Kufuor as chairman". newhumanitarian.org. 20 December 2003. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  22. ^ "Kikwete is new AU chairman". IOL. Reuters. 31 January 2008. from the original on 8 December 2008.
  23. ^ "Ghana's president involved in a car crash". IOL. Reuters. 14 November 2007. from the original on 8 December 2008.
  24. ^ "Health Insurance in Ghana". Ghana Web. from the original on 4 August 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  25. ^ . Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  26. ^ Sebastian R. Freiku (9 June 2008). "KATH, Accident, Emergency Centre takes shape". Ghanaian Chronicle. Kumasi: Modern Ghana. from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  27. ^ "More Pregnant Women Register Under Free Maternal Health Care Programme". Modern Ghana. 19 July 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  28. ^ "Kufuor inaugurates model School at Praso". 13 May 2008. from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  29. ^ "Effects of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre on Rural Enterprise Growth among Women Beneficiaries in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana" (PDF). Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  30. ^ "The Kufuor years (2001 – 2009): Economic Policies and Achievements". 12 July 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  31. ^ "President Tasks NSC To Manage Stadium Well". modern ghana. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  32. ^ "After a Long Wait Ghana Finally Made the FIFA World Cup Tournament in Germany in 2006". 29 August 2006. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  33. ^ Joy News (15 February 2012). "N1 highway named after George Bush". Modern Ghana. from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  34. ^ Ghana, Web (30 November 2017). "Kufour A Freemason". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  35. ^ "Freemason is not occult nor a secret society - Former Prez Kufuor" (interview with Bola Ray), TV Plus Ghana, 21 December 2017.
  36. ^ "Theresa Kufuor dies at 87 - MyJoyOnline.com". myjoyonline. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  37. ^ "Former First Lady Theresa Kufuor dead". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  38. ^ "Former First Lady Theresa Kufuor dead". GhanaWeb. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  39. ^ "International Advisory Board" 10 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine, SNV.
  40. ^ "Africa still needs aid -Kufuor". Ghanaweb.com. 29 September 2009. from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  41. ^ . Archived from the original on 17 October 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  42. ^ "Outside Review Supports World Bank Group Reform". Web.worldbank.org. 21 October 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  43. ^ a b "The 2011 World Food Prize Laureates". World Food Prize. from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  44. ^ . Myjoyonline. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  45. ^ "Kufuor Inaugurates Young Entrepreneurs Network". DailyGuide Network. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  46. ^ "Sanitation and Water for All at Stockholm World Water Week 2013". Sanitation and Water for All (SWA). 15 October 2011. from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  47. ^ . 7 January 2013. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  48. ^ Aryeh, Felix L. . umat education Ghana. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  49. ^ "Kufuor's appointment as UMaT Chancellor well-deserved – Akufo-Addo". ghanaweb. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  50. ^ "2011: Kufuor and Lula". Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  51. ^ "Prez. Kufuor to receive Chatham House Prize". ghanaweb. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  52. ^ a b "Ghana's President says we live in an interdependent world and promises more support for Liberia - Liberia | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 24 November 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  53. ^ "President Kufuor honoured". Joy online. 13 October 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  54. ^ "President Kufuor honoured by Exeter College". modern ghana. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  55. ^ "UCC honours President Kufuor". ghanaweb. 22 November 2003. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  56. ^ "Kufuor, John Agyekum, (born 8 Dec. 1938), President, Republic of Ghana, 2001–09; Ambassador Against Hunger, United Nations World Food Programme, since 2009; Founder, The John A. Kufuor Foundation, 2011", Who's Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u43906, retrieved 27 June 2023
  57. ^ "Kufuor, Asantehene attend Freemasons meeting in London". Pulse. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  58. ^ "Kufuor receives Leadership and Governance award". 8 July 2016. from the original on 11 July 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  59. ^ "Kufuor appointed Senior Grand Warden of UK Freemason Lodge". citifmonline. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  60. ^ "Kufuor appointed Senior Grand Warden of UK Freemason Lodge". Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  61. ^ "Liberia awards H.E. Kufuor highest honour – John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation". Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  62. ^ Graphic.com.gh (28 August 2018). "Weah decorates Kufuor with Liberia's highest national award". Graphic Online. Retrieved 9 January 2021.

External links edit

  • John A. Kufuor Foundation
  • Official website of the Government of Ghana
  • Interview with John Kufuor about Nigerian elections – broadcast on Radio France Internationale
  • Notable biographies
  • www.encyclopedia.com
  • Appearances on C-SPAN
Parliament of Ghana
Preceded by
Parliament suspended
Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabagya
1969–1972
Parliament suspended
Preceded by
Parliament suspended
Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabagya
1979–1981
Parliament suspended
Political offices
Preceded by
N/A
Minister for Local Government
1982
Succeeded by
Acquah Harrison
Preceded by President of Ghana
2001–2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States
2003–2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairperson of the African Union
2007–2008
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by New Patriotic Party presidential candidate
1996, 2000, 2004
Succeeded by

john, kufuor, ghanaian, businessman, john, addo, kufuor, john, kofi, agyekum, kufuor, born, december, 1938, ghanaian, politician, served, president, ghana, from, january, 2001, january, 2009, became, chairperson, african, union, from, 2007, 2008, victory, over. For his son the Ghanaian businessman see John Addo Kufuor John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor born 8 December 1938 1 is a Ghanaian politician who served as the President of Ghana from 7 January 2001 to 7 January 2009 2 He became the Chairperson of the African Union from 2007 to 2008 and his victory over John Evans Atta Mills at the end of Jerry Rawlings second term marked the first transition of power in Ghana from a democratic government to another democratic government 3 John KufuorGCBKufuor in 2008President of GhanaIn office 7 January 2001 7 January 2009Vice PresidentAliu MahamaPreceded byJerry RawlingsSucceeded byJohn Atta Mills5th Chairperson of the African UnionIn office 30 January 2007 31 January 2008Preceded byDenis Sassou NguessoSucceeded byJakaya KikweteMember of Parliament for Atwima NwabiagyaIn office 24 September 1979 31 December 1981In office 1 October 1969 13 January 1972Personal detailsBornJohn Kofi Agyekum Kufuor 1938 12 08 8 December 1938 age 85 Kumasi Colony of the Gold CoastPolitical partyNew Patriotic PartySpouseTheresa Mensah m 1962 died 2023 wbr RelationsKwame Addo Kufuor brother J H Mensah brother in law Children5Alma materOsei Tutu Boarding School Prempeh College Lincoln s InnExeter College OxfordProfessionLawyerBusinessmanPolitician Kufuor s career has been spent on the liberal democratic 4 side of Ghanaian politics in the parties descended from the United Gold Coast Convention and the United Party 5 As a lawyer and businessman he was a minister in Kofi Abrefa Busia s Progress Party government 6 during Ghana s Second Republic and a Popular Front Party opposition frontbencher during the Third Republic In the Fourth Republic Kufuor stood as the New Patriotic Party s candidate at the 1996 election and then led it to victory in 2000 and 2004 Having served two terms in power he retired from politics in 2008 He is popularly known as the Gentle Giant 7 Contents 1 Early life and schooling 2 Early political career 3 Elections 4 Presidency 4 1 Health 4 2 Education 4 3 Access to finance 4 4 Sports 5 Personal life 6 Post presidency 7 Awards and accolades 7 1 Foreign Honours 8 Bibliography 9 See also 10 References 11 External linksEarly life and schooling edit nbsp John and Theresa Kufuor 2008 The scion of a royal and aristocratic maternal lineage John Kufuor was born in Daaban a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana and started his primary and elementary school at the Kumasi Government School located in Asem built by Sir Gordon Guggisberg Kufuor was the 7th of 10 children of Nana Kwadwo Agyekum an Asante royal and Nana Ama Dapaah a Queen Mother citation needed In 1951 he continued his primary then called standard three education at Osei Tutu Boarding School Osei Tutu Senior High School from 1951 to 1953 8 At Prempeh College from 1954 to 1958 he schooled from Form 1 to Form 5 Arriving in London on 30 April 1959 he was by June accepted into Lincoln s Inn London 1959 61 to study law becoming qualified as a barrister in one year and eight months He was called to the London bar in 1961 In the following year he was called to the bar in Ghana before going on to Oxford University graduating from Exeter College in 1964 9 He was initially employed at the Ghana Commercial Bank in London as a manager and legal officer He returned to Ghana in the year 1965 at the behest of his mother who having already bought a first class ticket for his return wished him to practice in Africa He practiced in the Chambers of Victor Owusu with another lawyer Owusu Yaw citation needed In 1966 he became the town clerk of Kumasi City Council now Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly In the Second Republic s Parliamentary register Kufuor lists his hobbies and interests as table tennis reading football and film shows 10 He was once the chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club 11 Early political career editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources John Kufuor news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2024 Learn how and when to remove this template message After completing his education Kufuor returned to Ghana and launched his political career In 1967 he became chief legal officer and town clerk for the city of Kumasi By 1969 he was a member of Parliament and deputy foreign minister in the government of Kofi Abrefa Busia 12 Kufuor served as the Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya 13 in the Second 1969 72 and Third 1979 81 Republics He is a founding member of the Progress Party which was established in Busia s house 14 As Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs he represented Ghana on a number of occasions From 1969 to December 1971 he led Ghana s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City the Organization of African Unity OAU Ministerial Meetings in Addis Ababa and the Summit Conference of the Non Aligned Movement in Lusaka In 1970 he led the Ghanaian delegation to Moscow in the Soviet Union Prague Czechoslovakia and Belgrade Yugoslavia to discuss Ghana s indebtedness to these countries As the Spokesman on Foreign Affairs and Deputy Opposition Leader of the Popular Front Party PFP Parliamentary Group during the Third Republic he was invited to accompany President Hilla Limann to the OAU Summit Conference in Freetown Sierra Leone He was also a member of the parliamentary delegation that visited the United States in 1981 to talk to the International Monetary Fund IMF and the World Bank on Ghana s economic problems In January 1982 the leadership of the All People s Party APP which was an alliance of all the opposition parties advised some leading members including the Deputy Leader of the Alliance Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama the general secretary Dr Obed Asamoah and Kufuor to accept an invitation from the Provisional National Defence Council PNDC to serve in what was purported to be a National Government Kufuor was appointed the Secretary for Local Government in this new government 15 As a Secretary for Local Government he wrote the Local Government Policy Guidelines that were to be the foundation of the current decentralized District Assemblies 16 Elections edit nbsp John Kufuor at the 2008 World Economic Forum on Africa On 20 April 1996 Kufuor was nominated by 1034 out of 2000 delegates of the New Patriotic Party NPP drawn from all the 200 Constituencies of the Country to run for the president of Ghana on 10 December 1996 After campaigning for less than nine months Kufuor polled 39 62 of the popular votes to Rawlings 57 in the 1996 election On 23 October 1998 he was re nominated by the New Patriotic Party not only to run again for president but also to officially assume the position of Leader of the Party 17 Kufuor won the presidential election of December 2000 in the first round held on 7 December Kufuor came in first place with 48 4 while John Atta Mills Jerry Rawlings Vice president came in second with 44 8 forcing the two into a run off vote In the second round held on 28 December Kufuor was victorious taking 56 9 of the vote When Kufuor was sworn in on 7 January 2001 18 it marked the first time in Ghana s history that an incumbent government had peaceful transition of power to the opposition Kufuor was re elected in presidential and parliamentary elections held on 7 December 2004 earning 52 45 of the popular vote in the first round and thus avoiding a run off 19 while at the same time Kufuor s party the New Patriotic Party was able to secure more seats in the Parliament of Ghana 20 Presidency editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources John Kufuor news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2024 Learn how and when to remove this template message Main article Presidency of John Kufuor nbsp Kufuor with United States President George W Bush during a visit to the US in 2001 nbsp Kufuor with President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2005 nbsp At the 33rd G8 summit in Heiligendamm in 2007 Kufuor in front second from left His administration s domestic policy in the first term was marked by fiscal and monetary stringency on the economic front aimed at stabilizing a national economy that had stagnated and was in decline His social vision was focused on unleashing the entrepreneurial creative and innovative potential of Ghanaians as a means of creating wealth and hence dealing with the social challenges facing them This socio economic vision was encapsulated in the Five Priority Areas Programme viz the pursuit of good governance modernization of agriculture for rural development private sector participation enhanced social services and vigorous infrastructure development His administration is said to have received the most financial assistance in the history of Ghana due essentially to donors distrust for the military governments before it as well as those with some military connections Kufuor s foreign policy was underpinned by what he termed economic diplomacy It is within this context that in Africa in general and in West Africa in particular a good neighbourliness policy has been pursued which saw Ghana under Kufuor brokering peace in Liberia Sierra Leone Ivory Coast and Guinea Bissau among other African states On the global stage Kufuor actively sought the establishment of a just and equitable international social and economic order while promoting and safeguarding the interests of Ghana through bilateral and multilateral agreements His stature as statesman democrat and credible spokesman for Africa found expression in his invitation to major international meetings and conferences including the founding summit of the AU G8 Summits in Sea Island Georgia and Glenneagles Scotland and the World Economic Forum He served as chairman of the regional grouping ECOWAS for two consecutive terms 2003 and 2004 21 In 2007 due to the policy successes his administration chalked up Kufuor had his mandate renewed in 2004 and was sworn into office on 7 January 2005 Policy direction in Kufuor s second presidential term built on the foundations laid in the first four years The administration pursued Ghana s socio economic transformation in the second term using the three pronged approach of private sector development human resource development and good governance At the international level Kufuor consolidated Ghana s position as the voice of Africa credible peace broker beacon of democracy Ghana was the first country to undergo Peer Review under NEPAD s Africa Peer Review Mechanism and responsible member of the comity spelling of nations On 29 January 2007 Kufuor was elected as Chairperson of the African Union for the 2007 08 AU session He was succeeded by Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania on 31 January 2008 22 Kufuor was involved in a car accident during his presidency on 14 November 2007 in which another car collided with his causing it to roll over several times Kufuor was reported to be uninjured 23 Health edit He started the National Health Insurance Scheme to replace the existent cash and carry system 24 11 million Ghanaians were registered under this scheme He set up the National Ambulance Service and built more than 205 hospitals and clinics 25 He also built a state of the art emergency centre at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital 26 Kufuor also introduced free maternal health care in public hospitals for all expectant mothers 27 Education edit Kufuor institutionalised the capitation grant for school children at the basic level whereby each student was entitled to 2 for cultural sports and development He also started the national school feeding programme He changed the Senior Secondary School curriculum from three years to four years and renamed it Senior High School He started the model school senior high school concept in which some deprived schools were upgraded to the level of some first class senior high schools 28 Access to finance edit Kufuor launched the Microfinance and small loans program MASLOC a US 50 million fund that makes micro loans available to the productive population and introduced the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty Program LEAP which provides direct cash transfers to poor households in the country who could not support themselves For the first time in Ghana s history borrowing became so cheap and available that microfinance companies and major banks actually went on to the streets to encourage small scale businessmen and women to apply for loans 29 30 Sports edit He renovated the Accra Sports Stadium and the Baba Yara Stadium as well as built the Essipong and Tamale stadium in 2008 to host the CAN 2008 31 Under Kufuor Ghana qualified for the World Cup in 2006 32 President Kufuor s good governance policy led to Ghana obtaining a record 500 million grant from the U S Millennium Challenge Account for economic development The social vision behind the grant was anchored on unleashing the entrepreneurial creative and innovative potential of Ghanaians as a means of creating wealth and hence dealing with the social challenges facing Ghanaians This socio economic vision was encapsulated in the Five Priority Areas Programme vis the pursuit of good governance modernisation of agriculture for rural development private sector participation enhanced social services and vigorous infrastructural development The George Walker Bush Highway was also built from this fund 33 Personal life editKufuor at the age of 23 married Theresa Kufuor nee Mensah in 1962 after they met at a Republic Day Anniversary Dance in London in 1961 7 they have five children together Kufuor and his family belong to the Roman Catholic Church He is a Senior Grand Warden of the United Grand Lodge of England Freemasons 34 and has openly professed his membership as a Freemason since being a young lawyer 35 An Asante Kufuor speaks the Twi language fluently He was known for using his language whenever he was campaigning in his native Ashanti Region Kufuor and his family reside in Accra Ghana s capital His wife Theresa Kufuor died on Sunday 1st October 2023 36 37 38 Post presidency editIn July 2009 Kufuor became a member of the SNV Netherlands Development Organization International Advisory Board to contribute his expertise to the organization s poverty reduction work 39 In September 2009 Kufuor spoke in the Netherlands at a Dutch government event to mark 60 years of development aid at the invitation of Dutch Minister Bert Koenders which was attended by nearly 2 000 people During his visit to the Netherlands he was interviewed by the newspaper NRC Handelsblad and the Internationale Samenwerking magazine He argued for the importance of effective development assistance pointing out that development aid helped Ghana enter the international capital market 40 On 21 September 2009 he delivered the prestigious Legatum Pericles Lecture at the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 41 Kufuor is the Governing Council Chairman of Interpeace an international peacebuilding organisation based in Geneva since October 2009 Also in 2009 he served on the High Level Commission on the Modernization of World Bank Group Governance which under the leadership of Ernesto Zedillo conducted an external review of the World Bank Group s governance 42 Kufuor was chosen together with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to jointly receive the 2011 World Food Prize for their personal commitment and visionary leadership while serving as the presidents of Ghana and of Brazil respectively in creating and implementing government policies to alleviate hunger and poverty in their countries The foundation said the significant achievements of these two Laureates illustrate that transformational leadership truly can effect positive change and greatly improve people s lives 43 On 20 September 2011 Kufuor inaugurated the John Agyekum Kufuor JAK Foundation with a ground breaking ceremony for the JAK Centre for Leadership Governance and Development at the University of Ghana Legon The inaugural lecture which attracted very high local and foreign dignitaries had Horst Kohler former president of Germany as its guest speaker Thabo Mbeki former president of South Africa and Ghana ex president Jerry John Rawlings Kufuor s fiercest critic were among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony The ex presidents also unveiled a plaque on 22 September 2011 for the Kufuor Presidential Library and Museum at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology KNUST Kumasi which formed part of the John A Kufuor Foundation 44 In September 2018 the foundation set up the Kufuor Young Entrepreneurs Network K YEN This initiative supports and develops young entrepreneurs to excel in their endeavors 45 In October 2011 Kufuor received the 2011 World Food Prize along with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for his personal commitment and visionary leadership while serving as the president of Ghana and in creating and implementing government policies to alleviate hunger and poverty in his country 43 Since November 2011 Kufuor has been the first high level chair of the Sanitation and Water for All SWA partnership 46 Numerous NPP supporters tried to barricade President Kufuor s house on 7 January 2013 to prevent him from attending John Dramani Mahama s inauguration which the NPP as a party had decided to boycott as they felt going would undermine their challenge to Mahama s win in court Kufuor explained that the party had allowed him to go because he was invited as an ex President of Ghana and not as a Member of the NPP to the chagrin of the supporters The Ghana Police Service GPS reinforcement had to be sent to his abode to allow him to be able to go for the programme 47 In September 2017 the George Grant University of Mines and Technology UMaT appointed Kufour as the first Chancellor of the university 48 the appointment taking effect from 1 November 2017 The Investiture of was held in January 2018 49 Awards and accolades editKufuor has received numerous awards including the Face of Good Governance Award Chatham House Prize the Climate Change Award and the World Food Program s Global Ambassador Against Hunger 50 Chatham House Prize 2008 51 Distinction of Grand Cordon in the Most Venerable Order of the Knighthood of the Pioneers of the Republic of Liberia 2008 52 World Federation of Honorary Consuls Order of the Gold Star 2008 53 Honorary Fellow Exeter College Oxford University 54 and John Moore University Liverpool UK Honorary Doctorate from the University of Cape Coast Ghana 55 Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath conferred by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain 56 Awarded highest award of the Order of the House of Orange conferred by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands 57 Awarded State Honors from various countries including Italy Germany and Brazil Leadership and Governance award Ghana UK Based Achievement Awards Impact Africa Summit 2016 58 Senior Grand Warden of the United Grand Lodge of England appointed by His Royal Highness Prince Edward The Duke of Kent 59 Foreign Honours edit nbsp United Kingdom nbsp Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath 2006 60 nbsp Liberia nbsp Grand Cordon of the Order of the Pioneers of Liberia 2008 52 The Collar of State Most Venerable Order of the Pioneers of Liberia 2015 61 62 Bibliography editIvor Agyeman Duah Between Faith and History A Biography of J A Kufuor Trenton NJ Africa World Press 2003 ISBN 1 59221 128 3 Oxfordshire Ayebia Clarke Publishing 2006 ISBN 978 0 9547023 9 7 See also editList of national leaders Kufuor government Tokyo International Conference on African Development TICAD IV 2008 References edit John Kufuor Biography Education amp Facts Britannica britannica Retrieved 29 September 2023 John Agyekum Kufuor Biography ghanaweb Retrieved 29 September 2023 Ghana Independence Gold Coast Kwame Nkrumah Britannica britannica Retrieved 29 July 2023 John Agyekum Kufuor Biography ghanaweb Retrieved 29 September 2023 John Agyekum Kufuor Biography ghanaweb Retrieved 29 September 2023 John Kufuor Biography Education amp Facts Britannica britannica Retrieved 29 September 2023 a b How Kufuor met his wife and married at age 23 MyJoyOnline com myjoyonline Retrieved 19 May 2021 John Kufuor President of Ghana worldpresidentsdb Retrieved 26 April 2018 Dr John Kufuor exeter ox ac uk Retrieved 10 December 2020 John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor ghanaweb Archived from the original on 15 May 2021 Retrieved 10 December 2020 John Kufuor World economic forum Retrieved 10 December 2020 29 August 1969 Progress Party wins elections to form government of the 2nd Republic Edward A Ulzen Memorial Foundation 29 August 2017 Retrieved 29 July 2023 Chief Kufuor eyes Atwima Nwabiagya seat Modern Ghana 6 September 2010 Retrieved 10 December 2020 Today Is Kufour s 84th Birthday Check Out This Brief Biography Of Kufour NewsGhana24 Retrieved 27 June 2023 John Agyekum Kufuor World leaders Forum Retrieved 10 December 2020 Secretary for Local Government Retrieved 10 December 2020 President of Ghana John Kufuor Retrieved 10 December 2020 Kufuor John clubmadrid Former President Agyekum Kufuor turns 82 today ghanaweb Retrieved 10 December 2020 Elections in Ghana Africanelections tripod Archived from the original on 30 May 2012 Retrieved 14 May 2012 ECOWAS creates peace fund retains Kufuor as chairman newhumanitarian org 20 December 2003 Retrieved 10 December 2020 Kikwete is new AU chairman IOL Reuters 31 January 2008 Archived from the original on 8 December 2008 Ghana s president involved in a car crash IOL Reuters 14 November 2007 Archived from the original on 8 December 2008 Health Insurance in Ghana Ghana Web Archived from the original on 4 August 2013 Retrieved 26 July 2013 Presidency Archived from the original on 4 April 2012 Retrieved 26 July 2013 Sebastian R Freiku 9 June 2008 KATH Accident Emergency Centre takes shape Ghanaian Chronicle Kumasi Modern Ghana Archived from the original on 22 October 2013 Retrieved 26 July 2013 More Pregnant Women Register Under Free Maternal Health Care Programme Modern Ghana 19 July 2008 Retrieved 10 December 2020 Kufuor inaugurates model School at Praso 13 May 2008 Archived from the original on 28 September 2013 Retrieved 26 July 2013 Effects of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre on Rural Enterprise Growth among Women Beneficiaries in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana PDF Retrieved 10 December 2020 The Kufuor years 2001 2009 Economic Policies and Achievements 12 July 2018 Retrieved 10 December 2020 President Tasks NSC To Manage Stadium Well modern ghana Retrieved 10 December 2020 After a Long Wait Ghana Finally Made the FIFA World Cup Tournament in Germany in 2006 29 August 2006 Retrieved 10 December 2020 Joy News 15 February 2012 N1 highway named after George Bush Modern Ghana Archived from the original on 7 May 2013 Retrieved 26 July 2013 Ghana Web 30 November 2017 Kufour A Freemason GhanaWeb Retrieved 30 November 2017 Freemason is not occult nor a secret society Former Prez Kufuor interview with Bola Ray TV Plus Ghana 21 December 2017 Theresa Kufuor dies at 87 MyJoyOnline com myjoyonline 1 October 2023 Retrieved 2 October 2023 Former First Lady Theresa Kufuor dead Citinewsroom Comprehensive News in Ghana 1 October 2023 Retrieved 2 October 2023 Former First Lady Theresa Kufuor dead GhanaWeb 1 October 2023 Retrieved 2 October 2023 International Advisory Board Archived 10 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine SNV Africa still needs aid Kufuor Ghanaweb com 29 September 2009 Archived from the original on 27 September 2012 Retrieved 14 May 2012 President Kufuor Archived from the original on 17 October 2009 Retrieved 28 October 2009 Outside Review Supports World Bank Group Reform Web worldbank org 21 October 2009 Retrieved 27 January 2018 a b The 2011 World Food Prize Laureates World Food Prize Archived from the original on 19 July 2013 Retrieved 22 September 2011 I am happy to see you Rawlings says Kufuor Myjoyonline Archived from the original on 23 September 2011 Retrieved 22 September 2011 Kufuor Inaugurates Young Entrepreneurs Network DailyGuide Network 28 September 2018 Retrieved 16 February 2021 Sanitation and Water for All at Stockholm World Water Week 2013 Sanitation and Water for All SWA 15 October 2011 Archived from the original on 9 April 2014 Retrieved 9 February 2012 NPP supporters besiege Kufuor s residence To stop him from attending Mahama s inauguration 7 January 2013 Archived from the original on 10 March 2013 Retrieved 11 January 2013 Aryeh Felix L His Excellency Former President John Agyekum Kufuor Appointed Chancellor of UMaT umat education Ghana Archived from the original on 13 January 2018 Retrieved 12 January 2018 Kufuor s appointment as UMaT Chancellor well deserved Akufo Addo ghanaweb 12 January 2018 Retrieved 12 January 2018 2011 Kufuor and Lula Retrieved 10 December 2020 Prez Kufuor to receive Chatham House Prize ghanaweb 3 October 2008 Retrieved 10 December 2020 a b Ghana s President says we live in an interdependent world and promises more support for Liberia Liberia ReliefWeb reliefweb int 24 November 2008 Retrieved 27 June 2023 President Kufuor honoured Joy online 13 October 2008 Retrieved 10 December 2020 President Kufuor honoured by Exeter College modern ghana Retrieved 10 December 2020 UCC honours President Kufuor ghanaweb 22 November 2003 Retrieved 10 December 2020 Kufuor John Agyekum born 8 Dec 1938 President Republic of Ghana 2001 09 Ambassador Against Hunger United Nations World Food Programme since 2009 Founder The John A Kufuor Foundation 2011 Who s Who Oxford University Press 1 December 2007 doi 10 1093 ww 9780199540884 013 u43906 retrieved 27 June 2023 Kufuor Asantehene attend Freemasons meeting in London Pulse Retrieved 10 December 2020 Kufuor receives Leadership and Governance award 8 July 2016 Archived from the original on 11 July 2016 Retrieved 8 July 2016 Kufuor appointed Senior Grand Warden of UK Freemason Lodge citifmonline 27 April 2017 Retrieved 10 December 2020 Kufuor appointed Senior Grand Warden of UK Freemason Lodge Citi 97 3 FM Relevant Radio Always 27 April 2017 Retrieved 9 January 2021 Liberia awards H E Kufuor highest honour John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation Retrieved 9 January 2021 Graphic com gh 28 August 2018 Weah decorates Kufuor with Liberia s highest national award Graphic Online Retrieved 9 January 2021 External links editJohn Kufuor at Wikipedia s sister projects nbsp Media from Commons nbsp Quotations from Wikiquote nbsp Data from Wikidata John A Kufuor Foundation Foundation archive Official website of the Government of Ghana Official website of the Office of the President of Ghana Interview with John Kufuor about Nigerian elections broadcast on Radio France Internationale Notable biographies www encyclopedia com Appearances on C SPAN Parliament of Ghana Preceded byParliament suspended Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabagya1969 1972 Parliament suspended Preceded byParliament suspended Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabagya1979 1981 Parliament suspended Political offices Preceded byN A Minister for Local Government1982 Succeeded byAcquah Harrison Preceded byJerry Rawlings President of Ghana2001 2009 Succeeded byJohn Atta Mills Preceded byAbdoulaye Wade Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States2003 2005 Succeeded byMamadou Tandja Preceded byDenis Sassou Nguesso Chairperson of the African Union2007 2008 Succeeded byJakaya Kikwete Party political offices Preceded byAlbert Adu Boahen New Patriotic Party presidential candidate1996 2000 2004 Succeeded byNana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Kufuor amp oldid 1217587987, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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