John Kufuor | |
|---|---|
 Kufuor in 2008 | |
| 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 President of Ghana from 7 January 2001 to 7 January 2009.[2] He was 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 party to another democratic party.[3]
Kufuor's career has been spent on the liberal-democratic[2] side of Ghanaian politics, in the parties descended from the United Gold Coast Convention and the United Party.[2]
As a lawyer and businessman, he was a minister in Kofi Abrefa Busia's Progress Party government[1] 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.[4]
- ^ a b "John Kufuor | Biography, Education, & Facts | Britannica". britannica. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "John Agyekum Kufuor, Biography". ghanaweb. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ "Ghana - Independence, Gold Coast, Kwame Nkrumah | Britannica". britannica. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "How Kufuor met his wife and married at age 23 - MyJoyOnline.com". myjoyonline. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.