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John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor (born 8 December 1938) was the second president of the 4th Republic of Ghana (2001–2009) and Chairperson of the African Union (2007–2008). His victory over John Atta-Mills after the end of Jerry Rawlings' second term marked the first peaceful democratic transition of power in Ghana since the country's independence in 1957.

Kufuor's career has been spent on the liberal-democratic side of Ghanaian politics, in the parties descended from the United Gold Coast Convention and the United Party. He was a minister in Kofi Abrefa Busia's Progress Party government during Ghana's Second Republic, and a Popular Front Party opposition frontbencher during the Third Republic. In the Fourth Republic he 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 2008 he was no longer eligible for the presidency.

 Early life

An Asante, Kufuor married 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 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 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.

Presidency

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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 of any in the history of Ghana, due essentially to donors' distrust for the military governments before it, as well as those with some military connections. In addition, Kuffour personally is believed to have institutionalzed tribal politics more than any administration in Ghana.

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 neighbor 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, while promoting and safeguarding the interests of Ghana through bilateral and multilateral agreements. 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.

He served as Chairman of the regional grouping ECOWAS for two consecutive terms - 2003 and 2004. In 2007,

Due to the policy successes his administration chalked up, President Kufuor had his mandate renewed in 2004 and was sworn into office on 7 January 2005. Policy direction in President Kufuor's second term has built on the foundations laid in the first four years. The 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. 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.

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.

Kufuor has been honored with 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.

Post-Presidency

In July 2009, Kufuor became a member of the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation International Advisory Board to contribute his expertise to the organisation's poverty reduction work. In September 2009, Kufuor spoke in the Netherlands at 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.

On September 21, 2009, he delivered the prestigious Legatum Pericles Lecture at the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.. John Kufuor is the Governing Council Chairman of Interpeace, an international peacebuilding organization based in Geneva since October 2009. He also became a member of the prestigious Club of Madrid, the largest grouping of former democratically elected heads of state.

John Agyekum Kufour has been 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 in a statement said the significant achievements of these two Laureates illustrate that transformational leadership truly can effect positive change and greatly improve people’s lives. .

In September 20, 2011, he 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 H.E. Horst Koehler, ex-president of the Republic of Germany, as its guest speaker. Thabo Mbeki, ex-president of South Africa and ex-president Jerry John Rawlings, Mr. Kufour's fiercest critic, were among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony. The ex-presidents also unveiled a plaque on September 22, 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.

 Cabinet

 First Cabinet (January 2001)

    John Agyekum Kufuor — President of Ghana
    Hon. Aliu Mahama — Vice President of Ghana
    Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi — Minister of Education Replaced later by;
    Mr. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu— Minister of Education, Youth & Sports
    Mrs. Cecilia Bannerman — Minister for Manpower Development & Employment
    Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah — Minister for Communication
    Mrs. Gladys Asmah — Ministry for Women & Children's Affairs
    Hon. Yaw Osafo-Marfo — Minister for Finance
    Mr. Jacob Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey — Minister of Information
    Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor — Minister of Defense & Later Acting Minister for the Interior
    Madam Hawa Yakubu — Minister for Tourism
    Hon. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu — Ministry for Local Government & Rural Development Replaced later by;
    Mr. Charles Bintim — Ministry for Local Government & Rural Development
    Hon. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman — Minister for Foreign Affairs Replaced later by;
    Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo — Minister for Justice
    Major (Rtd) Courage Emmanuel Kobla Quashigah — Minister of Food & Agriculture
    Hon. Richard W. Anane — Minister of Health
    Prof. Mike Oquaye — Minister for Environment and Science
    Hon. Kwamina Bartels — Minister for Private Sector Development & PSI
    Hon. Dr. Richard Winfred Anane — Minister for Road Transport
    Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi — Minister for Habours & Railways
    Mr. Alan Kyeremanten — Minister for Trade and Industry
    Hon. Malik Al-Hassan Yakubu — Minister for the Interior Replaced later by;
    Hon. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman — Minister for the Interior
    Mr. Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo — Attorney-General & Minister for Justice Replaced later by;
    Hon. Papa Owusu Ankomah — Minister of Foreign Affairs
    Alhaji Mallam Issah — Minister of Youth & Sports Replaced later by;
    Hon. Papa Owusu Ankomah — Minister of Youth & Sports Replaced later by;
    Hon. Osei Kwaku — Minister of Youth & Sports
    Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah — Minister for Energy replaced later by;
    Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom — Minister for Energy
    Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom — Minister for Economic Planning & NEPAD
    Hon. Felix Owusu Agyapong — Minister for Parliamentary Affairs
    Miss Elizabeth Ohene — Minister of State in Charge of Tertiary Education
    Miss Christine Churcher — Minister of State in Charge of Primary, Secondary & Girl-Child Education

 Second Cabinet (January 2005)

    John Agyekum Kufuor — President of Ghana
    Hon. Aliu Mahama — Vice President of Ghana
    Hon. Yaw Osafo-Maafo — Minister of Education and Sports
    Hon. Joseph Kofi Adda — Minister for Manpower, Youth & Development
    Hon. Kan-Dapaah — Minister for Communication & Technology
    Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom — Minister of Energy Replaced later by;
    Hon. Mike Oquaye — Minister of Energy
    Hajia Alima Mahama — Ministry for Women & Children's Affairs
    Hon. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu — Minister for Finance & Economic Planning
    Mr. Dan Botwe — Minister of Information
    Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor — Minister of Defense
    Mr Jacob Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey — Minister for Tourism & Modernization of Capital City
    Mr. Charles Bintim — Ministry for Local Government & Rural Rural Development
    Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo — Minister for Foreign Affairs and NEPAD
    Mrs. Gladys Asmah — Minister for Fisheries
    Mr. Ernest Akobuor Debrah — Minister of Agriculture and Food
    Major (Rtd) Courage Emmanuel Kobla Quashigah — Minister of Health
    Ms Christine Churcher — Minister for Environment and Science
    Hon. Kwamina Bartels — Minister for Private Sector Development & PSI
    Hon. Dr. Richard Winfred Anane — Minister for Road Transport
    Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi — Minister for Habours & Railways
    Mr. Alan Kyeremanten — Minister for Trade and Industry
    Mr. Papa Owusu Ankomah — Minister for the Interior
    Mr. Prof. Mike Oquaye — Attorney-General & Minister for Justice
    Hon. Felix Owusu-Agyapong — Minister for Parliamentary Affairs
    Miss Elizabeth Ohene — Minister of State in Charge of Tertiary Education

 Third Cabinet (2006)

    John Agyekum Kufuor — President of Ghana
    Hon. Aliu Mahama — Vice President of Ghana
    Hon. Papa Owusu Ankama — Minister of Education, Science and Sports
    Hon. Joseph Kofi Adda — Minister for Manpower, Youth & Employment
    Prof. Mike Oquaye — Minister for Communication
    Hajia Alima Mahama — Ministry for Women & Children's Affairs
    Hon. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu — Minister for Finance & Economic Planning
    Mr. Kwamina Bartels — Minister for Information and National Orientation
    Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor — Minister of Defense
    Mr Jacob Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey — Minister for Tourism & Diaporan Relations
    Mr. Asamoah Boateng — Ministry for Local Government, Rural Development & Environment
    Dr. Esther Obeng Dappah — Minister of Mining and Minerals
    Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo — Minister for Foreign Affairs and NEPAD
    Mrs. Gladys Asmah — Minister for Fisheries
    Mr. Ernest Akobuor Debrah — Minister of Food & Agriculture
    Major (Rtd) Courage Emmanuel Kobla Quashigah — Minister of Health
    Hon. Dr. Richard Winfred Anane — Minister for Transportation (Later Resigned)
    Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi — Minister for Ports, Habours & Railways
    Mr. Alan Kyeremanten — Minister for Trade and Industry, Private Sector Development & PSI
    Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah — Minister for the Interior
    Mr. Joe Ghartey — Attorney-General & Minister for Justice
    Hon. Felix Owusu Agyapong — Minister for Parliamentary Affairs & Acting Minister for Transportation
    Mr. Francis Poku — Minister for National Security
    Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani — Minister for Presidential Affairs
    Hon. S.K. Boafo — Minister of State in Charge of Culture & Chieftancy Affairs
    Miss Elizabeth Ohene — Minister of State at the Presidency