Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has expressed disappointment that though he is an elder of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and a founding member for that matter, he is being treated as though his suggestions and inputs are not needed in decision making therefore he is scarcely consulted or even informed about Party decisions.
John Agyekum Kufuor feels sidelined and excluded.
Speaking during a visit from Abetifi MP and presidential aspirant hopeful Bryan Acheampong, a moment shared on his X wall on Saturday July 6th, 2025, Kufuor shared how hurt and confused he feels about being left out of key discussions within the party.
“If this party still has elders. I am one,” he said, adding that he has not been consulted or even informed about important developments.
“Have I deteriorated to the point where, after being fed, I’d claim I haven’t eaten? No, I haven’t reached that stage yet. My mind and memory are intact. I’ve been quiet, but make no mistake, I’ve been watching. Closely. The least the party can do is keep me informed. Let me hear what’s happening,” the former President stated firmly, rejecting any idea that age has affected his ability to contribute.
Kufuor, who led the NPP from opposition to power in 2000 and served as President from 2001 to 2009, said he’s shocked by how little respect is being shown to founding leaders like himself.
He also revealed that he was not invited to a recent National Council meeting, an important gathering for shaping the party’s direction.
Kufuor warned that ignoring elder statesmen can hurt party unity.
“In 1969, I entered Parliament. I was 30 years. I was a founding member of the Progress Party. Dr. Busia appointed me Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and when Busia was overthrown, I spent thirteen months in jail. How many among us today have paid that kind of price?”, he recalled.
“From January 1972, after the overthrow, we built this party gradually, until 2000 when I led it back to power, for eight solid years. And now… I’m being sidelined? Ignored? I don’t understand it. I really don’t,” he said with emotion.
His words come at a time when the NPP is facing serious internal challenges ahead of the 2028 elections.
John Agyekum Kufuor, born on December 8, 1938, served as Ghana’s President from 2001 to 2009. His election marked a major turning point in the country’s history, as it was the first peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another since independence in 1957.
Kufuor was a lawyer and politician whose career began in 1969 when he became a Member of Parliament and later served as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia. After years in opposition, he became the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and won the presidency in 2000. He was re-elected in 2004.
During his two-term presidency, Kufuor was praised for strengthening Ghana’s democratic institutions, boosting the economy, and promoting good governance. His policies focused on five key areas: governance, agriculture, private sector growth, social services, and infrastructure. Notable projects included the National Health Insurance Scheme, free maternal healthcare, the School Feeding Programme, and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme.
Internationally, he promoted “economic diplomacy,” worked as a peace broker in several West African countries, and served as Chairperson of the African Union from 2007 to 2008.
Kufuor also led Ghana to its first-ever World Cup appearance in 2006 and hosted the African Cup of Nations in 2008. His leadership earned him global recognition, including the World Food Prize in 2011 for his work in reducing hunger and poverty.
He later founded the John A. Kufuor Foundation to promote leadership and governance and served as Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology in 2018.
Respected at home and abroad, Kufuor is seen as a true statesman who helped shape Ghana’s modern democratic path.
