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'''John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor''' (born 8 December 1938) is a politician from [[Ghana]] and member of the centre-right [[New Patriotic Party]] (NPP).
'''John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor''' (born 8 December 1938) is a political figure from [[Ghana]]. He was the second [[President of Ghana]], serving from 2001 to 2009; and was [[Chairperson of the African Union]] serving from 2007 to 2008. He ran for election in 2000 and won, succeeding [[Jerry Rawlings]], who defeated him when he previously ran for President in the election in 1996. Kufuor's victory marked the first peaceful democratic transition of power in Ghana since the country's independence in 1957.

==Overview==
Kufuor was the second [[President of Ghana]] (2001 to 2009) during which time he was also [[Chairperson of the African Union]] (2007 to 2008). His initial victory over [[Jerry Rawlings]] at the [[Ghanaian presidential election, 2000|2000]] election marked the first peaceful democratic transition of power in Ghana since the country's independence in 1957. Kufuor had previously stood as NPP candidate in the [[Ghanaian presidential election, 1996|1996]] campaign, but was defeated by Rawlings.


==Biography==
==Biography==

Revision as of 07:45, 1 October 2009

John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor
2nd President of Ghana
(4th Republic)
In office
7 January 2001 – 7 January 2009
Vice PresidentAliu Mahama
Preceded byJerry Rawlings
Succeeded byJohn Atta Mills
Personal details
Born (1938-12-08) 8 December 1938 (age 85)
Kumasi, Gold Coast
Political partyNew Patriotic Party
SpouseTheresa Mensah
ProfessionLawyer

John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor (born 8 December 1938) is a politician from Ghana and member of the centre-right New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Overview

Kufuor was the second President of Ghana (2001 to 2009) during which time he was also Chairperson of the African Union (2007 to 2008). His initial victory over Jerry Rawlings at the 2000 election marked the first peaceful democratic transition of power in Ghana since the country's independence in 1957. Kufuor had previously stood as NPP candidate in the 1996 campaign, but was defeated by Rawlings.

Biography

Early life and background

A member of the Ashanti people, Kufuor is married to Theresa Kufuor (née Mensah) in 1962, with whom he has had five children. Kufuor and his family belong to the Roman Catholic Church. He was born in Kumasi and educated at Osei Tutu Boarding School (1951-53), Prempeh College (1954-58), Lincoln's Inn, London (1959-1961) and Exeter College, University of Oxford (1961-1964). In the Second Republic's Parliamentary Register Kufuor lists as his hobbies and interests table tennis, reading, football, and film shows.

Early political career

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, 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 former Soviet Union, Prague (Former 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 Limann to the OAU Summit Conference in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He was also a member of the parliamentary delegation that visited the United States of America (USA) in 1981 to talk to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank on Ghana's economic problems.

President Kufuor with United States President George W. Bush during a visit to the USA in 2001

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 Mr. J. A. 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.

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.

Elections

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.

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, Kufour was victorious, taking 56.9% of the vote.

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, while at the same time Kufuor's party, the New Patriotic Party, was able to secure more seats in the Parliament of Ghana. [1]

Presidency

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 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, modernization of agriculture for rural development, private sector participation, enhanced social services and vigorous infrastructural development.

President 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 neighborliness policy has been pursued which has seen Ghana under President Kufuor brokering peace in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’lvoire and Guinea- Bissau among other African states. On the global stage President Kufuor has actively sought the establishment of a just and equitable international social and economic order and promoted and safeguarded the interests of Ghana at the bilateral and multilateral level. His stature as statesman, democrat and credible spokesman for Africa has 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 among others.

Due to the policy successes his administration chalked President Kufuor had his mandate renewed in 2004 and was sworn into office on 7th January 2005. Policy direction in President Kufuor’s second term has built on the foundations laid in the first four years. President Kufuor’s administration is pursuing 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 President Kufuor is consolidating Ghana’s position as the voice of Africa, credible peace broker, beacon of democracy (Ghana is the first country to undergo Peer Review under NEPAD’s Africa Peer Review Mechanism) and responsible member of the comity of nations.

On 29 January 2007, Kufuor was elected as the Chairperson of the African Union for the 2007-2008 AU session. He was succeeded by Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania on 31 January 2008.[1] Kufuor was involved in a car crash during his presidency on 14 November 2007, in which another car collided with his and caused it to roll over several times. Kufuor was reported to be uninjured.[2]

Finally, President Kufuor’s good governance policy has led to Ghana obtaining a record $500 million grant from the U.S Millennium Challenge Account for economic development. Social vision 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, modernization of agriculture for rural development, private sector participation, enhanced social services and vigorous infrastructural development.

Cabinets

First Cabinet (Jan 2001)

Second Cabinet (Jan 2005)

Third Cabinet (2006)

Bibliography

Ivor Agyeman-Duah: Between faith and history : a biography of J.A. Kufuor. Oxfordshire : Ayebia Clarke Publishing, 2006. ISBN 9780954702397. (Edition 2003 [Trenton, NJ : Africa World]: ISBN 1592211283

References

  1. ^ "Kikwete is new AU chairman", Reuters (IOL), 31 January, 2008.
  2. ^ "Ghana's president involved in a car crash", Reuters (IOL), 14 November, 2007.

See also

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
?
 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

ak:John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor

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