John Kufuor | |
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President of Ghana (2nd President of the 4th Republic) |
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In office 7 January 2001 – 7 January 2009 |
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Vice President | Aliu Mahama |
Preceded by | Jerry John Rawlings |
Succeeded by | John Atta Mills |
Chairperson of the African Union | |
In office 30 January 2007 – 31 January 2008 |
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Preceded by | Denis Sassou Nguesso |
Succeeded by | Jakaya Kikwete |
Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya (3rd Republic) |
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In office 24 September 1979 – 31 December 1981 |
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Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya (2nd Republic) |
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In office 1 October 1969 – 13 January 1972 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
Kumasi, Colony of the Gold Coast |
8 December 1938
Political party | New Patriotic Party |
Spouse(s) | Theresa Kufuor |
Children | 5 |
Alma mater |
Exeter College, University of Oxford (1961–64), Prempeh College (1954–58) |
Profession | Lawyer, Businessman |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor (born 8 December 1938) is a former President of the Republic of Ghana (President from 2001 to 2009). He was also Chairperson of the African Union from 2007 to 2008. His victory over John Evans Atta Mills after the end of Jerry Rawlings' second term marked the first peaceful democratic transition of power in Ghana since 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.
An Asante, Kufuor married Theresa Kufuor (née Mensah) in 1962; they have five children together. Kufuor and his family belong to the Roman Catholic Church. He was born in Kumasi and educated at Osei Tutu Boys college (1951–53), Prempeh College (1954–58), Lincoln's Inn, London (1959–1961) and Exeter College, University of Oxford (1961–64). In the Second Republic's Parliamentary Register Kufuor lists as his hobbies and interests table tennis, reading, football, and film shows. He was once the Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club.