John Kufuor
John Kufuor | |
---|---|
President of Ghana | |
In office 7 January 2001 – 7 January 2009 | |
Vice President | Aliu Mahama |
Preceded by | Jerry Rawlings |
Succeeded by | John Atta Mills |
5th Chairperson of the African Union | |
In office 30 January 2007 – 31 January 2008 | |
Preceded by | Denis Sassou Nguesso |
Succeeded by | Jakaya 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 8 December 1938 Kumasi, Colony of the Gold Coast |
Political party | New Patriotic Party |
Spouse | |
Relations |
|
Children | 5 |
Alma mater | Osei Tutu Boarding School Prempeh College Lincoln's Inn Exeter College, Oxford |
Profession |
|
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]
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
Early life and schooling
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 (
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
Early political career
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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
As
As the Spokesman on
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
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
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
This section needs additional citations for verification. (February 2024) |
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
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
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
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
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
He renovated the
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
Kufuor at the age of 23 married
Post-presidency
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
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
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
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
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]
- 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,John Moore University, Liverpool, UK.
- Honorary Doctorate from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.[55]
- Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.[56]
- Awarded highest award of the 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
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (2006)[60]
- 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
- Ivor Agyeman-Duah: Between Faith and History: A Biography of J. A. Kufuor (Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, 2003, ISBN 978-0-9547023-9-7.
See also
- List of national leaders
- Kufuor government
- Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-IV), 2008.
References
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- ^ "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.
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- ^ "John Kufuor | Biography, Education, & 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.
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- ^ "Dr John Kufuor". exeter.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
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- ^ "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.
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- ^ "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.
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- ^ "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.
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- ^ 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.
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- ^ "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.
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- ^ 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.
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- ^ "Kufuor receives Leadership and Governance award". 8 July 2016. Archived from the original on 11 July 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
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- ^ "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
- 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