Government Government of Ghana President Ghana
Description of Work:
H.E.. John Agyekum Kufuor was born on December 8, 1938 in Kumasi, Ghana. He attended Prempeh College for his Secondary Education, where he passed at the top of his class. He enrolled at Lincoln Inn, London, and was called to the Bar in 1961 at the age of 22.

Mr. Kufuor comes to the Presidency with impressive Public service credentials, spanning over thirty years. In 1967, he was appointed Chief Legal Officer and Town Clerk (City Manager) of Kumasi, the second largest City of Ghana. He has a long and distinguished political career which includes positions as a Member of Parliament, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and was one of the founding members of the Progress Party.

Mr. J.A. Kufuor won the presidential elections in Dec. 2000 and was sworn in as president on January 7, 2001. His administration's domestic policy in the first term was marked by fiscal and monetary stringency, and a social vision that was anchored on unleashing the entrepreneurial, creative and innovative potential of 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'Ivoire and Guinea- Bissau among other African states. 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. Kufuor's victory marked the first peaceful transition of power in Ghana since the country's independence was declared. Kufuor was also the Chairperson of the African Union from 2007 to 2008.

(Information from ghanacastle.gov)