John Agyekum Kufuor

At the age of 23, Kufuor married Theresa Kufuor (née Mensah) in 1962 after meeting at a Republic Day Anniversary Dance in London in 1961. They raised five children together and are members of the Roman Catholic Church. Kufuor is openly affiliated with the Freemasons and holds the position of Senior Grand Warden of the United Grand Lodge of England. As an Asante, he is fluent in the Twi language and often used it during campaigns in his native Ashanti Region. The Kufuor family resides in Accra, Ghana's capital. Unfortunately, Theresa Kufuor passed away on October 1, 2023.

 

Kufuor's political journey in Ghana began after completing his education, where he held various roles, including chief legal officer and town clerk for Kumasi in 1967. By 1969, he was not only a Member of Parliament but also the deputy foreign minister in Kofi Abrefa Busia's government. He represented Atwima Nwabiagya in the Second and Third Republics and was a founding member of the Progress Party.

In his capacity as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kufuor represented Ghana in international forums like the United Nations General Assembly, OAU Ministerial Meetings, and the Non-Aligned Movement Summit. He also led delegations to Moscow, Prague, and Belgrade to address Ghana's debt issues.

Kufuor's political journey began in Ghana after completing his education. He held positions including chief legal officer and town clerk for Kumasi in 1967. By 1969, he served as a Member of Parliament and deputy foreign minister in Kofi Abrefa Busia's government. Kufuor represented Atwima Nwabiagya as an MP during the Second and Third Republics and played a pivotal role as a founding member of the Progress Party.

During the Third Republic, Kufuor served as the Spokesman on Foreign Affairs and Deputy Opposition Leader for the Popular Front Party (PFP) Parliamentary Group. He accompanied President Hilla Limann to the OAU Summit Conference in Freetown and was part of a parliamentary delegation that engaged with the IMF and the World Bank in the United States in 1981.

In 1982, Kufuor was encouraged by the All People's Party (APP) leadership to join a National Government under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC). He assumed the role of Secretary for Local Government and authored the Local Government Policy Guidelines, which served as the basis for the establishment of today's decentralized District Assemblies.

In 1996, Kufuor was nominated by the NPP to run for the Ghanaian presidency, gaining 39.62% of the vote in a December election. In 2000, he was elected president after winning a run-off against John Atta-Mills with 56.9% of the vote, marking the first peaceful transition of power in Ghana's history. Kufuor was re-elected in 2004 with 52.45% of the vote, and his party, the NPP, gained more parliamentary seats.

During his presidency, Kufuor had a significant impact:

• Health: He introduced the National Health Insurance Scheme, expanded healthcare infrastructure, and offered free maternal healthcare, benefiting millions.

• Education: Kufuor improved education with the capitation grant, school feeding program, and transformation of Senior Secondary School. He upgraded disadvantaged schools through the model school senior high school concept.

• Access to Finance: He enhanced financial access with the Microfinance and small loans program (MASLOC) and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty Program (LEAP), aiding disadvantaged households.

• Sports: Kufuor invested in sports infrastructure, enabling Ghana's qualification for the 2006 World Cup.

• Economic Development: His good governance policies secured a $500 million grant, promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, and infrastructure development through projects like the George Walker Bush Highway.

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Kufuor has received numerous prestigious awards and honors, including the Chatham House Prize, the Climate Change Award, and the World Food Program's Global Ambassador Against Hunger. He also holds distinctions such as the Grand Cordon in the Order of the Knighthood of the Pioneers of Liberia and the World Federation of Honorary Consuls' Order of the Gold Star. He has honorary fellowships from Exeter College, Oxford University, and John Moore University in the UK, along with an honorary doctorate from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Kufuor was honored with the Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath by Queen Elizabeth II and received state honors from various countries, including Italy, Germany, and Brazil. He holds the title of Senior Grand Warden of the United Grand Lodge of England, appointed by Prince Edward, The Duke of Kent, and has foreign honors, including the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the United Kingdom and the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Pioneers of Liberia.