# Presidency of John Kufuor

The presidency of John Kufuor began on 7 January 2001 and ended on 7 January 2009 after he was inaugurated as the 2nd President of the Fourth Republic. Kufuor was a New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate. He won the 2000 Ghanaian general election after defeating National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate John Atta Mills by earning 56.9% of the votes. This marked Ghana's first transition of power through a free and fair election since independence. Kufuor ran for re-election in 2004, winning again against John Atta Mills, and served two full terms.

## First election

The election began on 7 December 2000 with a second round of the presidential election on 28 December. The presidential elections resulted in a victory for John Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), whilst the NPP also won the most seats in the parliamentary elections.
Kufuor had previously run unsuccessfully in the 1996 election, after winning the nomination of the New Patriotic Party (gaining 1034 votes out of the 2000 party delegates).
On 23 October 1998 Kufuor was once again re-nominated by the New Patriotic Party to run for president, while also officially becoming the leader of the party.
Kufuor won the presidential election of December 2000. In the first round of voting, held on 7 December 2000, Kufuor came in first place with 48.4%, while John Atta-Mills, the NDC candidate, came in second with 44.8%. This led to a run-off vote between the two. In the second round, held on 28 December, Kufuor won 56.9% of the vote and emerged victorious. Kufuor was sworn in on 7 January 2001. This was the first democratic changeover of government in the history of Ghana.

## Personnel
### Ministers of state (2001–2005)

There was a cabinet reshuffle on April 1, 2003.
| Portfolio | Minister | Time frame | Notes |
| President | John Kufuor | Jan 2001 - Jan 2005 | |
| Vice President | Aliu Mahama | Jan 2001 - Jan 2005 | |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | Hackman Owusu-Agyeman Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo | 2001 – Apr 2003 Apr 2003 – 2007 | |
| Minister for Interior | Malik Al-Hassan Yakubu Hackman Owusu-Agyeman | 2001 – 2002 2003 – 2005 | Resigned following Yendi conflict |
| Minister for Finance and Economic Planning | Yaw Osafo-Maafo | 2001 – 2005 | |
| Minister for Defence | Kwame Addo-Kufuor | 7 Jan 2001 – 6 Aug 2007 | |
| Attorney General and Minister for Justice | Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Papa Owusu Ankomah | 2001 – 2003 2003 – 2005 | |
| Minister for Education later Minister for Education, Youth and Sports | Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi Kwadwo Baah Wiredu | 2001 – 2003 2003 – 2005 | |
| Minister for Health | Richard Winfred Anane Dr. Kwaku Afriyie | 2001 – 2003 2003 – 2005 | |
| Minister for Food and Agriculture | Major Courage Quashigah | 2001 – 2005 | |
| Minister for Fisheries | Ishmael Ashitey | 2001 – 2005 | |
| Minister for Trade and Industry | Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku Alan Kyeremanteng | 2001 – 2003 2003 – 2007 | |
| Ministry for Local Government and Rural Development | Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu Kwadwo Adjei Darko | 2001 – 2003 2003 – 2005 | |
| Minister for Manpower Development and Employment | Cecilia Ladze Bannermann Yaw Barimah | 2001 – 2003 2003 – 2005 | |
| Minister for Energy | Albert Kan Dapaah Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom (CPP) | 2001 – 2003 2003 – 2005 | |
| Minister for Mines | Cecilia Ladze Bannermann | 2003 – 2005 | |
| Minister for Lands, Mines and Forestry | Dr. Kwaku Afriyie Prof. Dominic Fobih | 2001 – 2003 2003 – present | |
| Minister for Works and Housing | Kwamena Bartels Alhaji Mustapha Idris Ali | 2001 – 2003 2003 – 2005 | |
| Minister for Women and Children's Affairs | Mrs. Gladys Asmah | 2001 – 2005 | |
| Minister for Tourism later Minister for Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City | Hawa Yakubu Jake Obetsebi Lamptey | 2001 – May 2002 2003 – 2007 | |
| Minister for Environment, Science and Technology later Minister for Science and Environment | Prof. Dominic Kwaku Fobih Prof. Mike Oquaye Prof. Kasim Kasanga | 2001 – 2003 2003 – 2005 | |
| Minister for Public Sector Reform and National Institutional Renewal Programme | Joseph Henry Mensah | 2003 – 2005 | |
| Minister for Presidential Affairs | Jake Obetsebi Lamptey | 2001 – 2003 | |
| Minister for Parliamentary Affairs | Felix Owusu-Adjapong | 2003 – 2007 | |
| Minister and Leader of Government Business | Joseph Henry Mensah | 2001 – 2003 | |
| Minister for Roads, Highways later Minister for Roads, Highways and Transport | Kwadwo Adjei-Darko Richard Winfred Anane | 2001 – 2003 2003 – 2006 | |
| Minister for Ports, Harbours and Railways | Prof.Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi | 2003 – present | |
| Minister for Regional Co-Operation and NEPAD | Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom (CPP) Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku | ? – 2003 2003 – 2006 | |
| Minister for Transport and Communications | Felix Owusu-Adjapong | 2001 – 2003 | |
| Minister for Communications and Technology | Albert Kan Dapaah | 2003 – 2006 | |
| Minister for Private Sector Development | Charles Omar Nyannor Kwamena Bartels | 2001 – 2003 2003 – ? | |
| Minister for Information | Jake Obetsebi Lamptey Nana Akomea | ? – 2003 2003 – 2005 | |
| Minister for Youth and Sports | Alhaji Mallam Issah | 2001 | |
| Minister of State (media relations) | Elizabeth Ohene | 2001 – ? | |
| Minister of State for primary, secondary and girl-child education | Christine Churcher | 2001 – 2005 | |
| Regional Ministers ||||
| Ashanti Regional Minister | Sampson Kwaku Boafo | | |
| Brong Ahafo Region | Ernest Debrah | | |
| Central Region | Isaac Edumadze | | |
| Eastern Region | Dr. S.K. Osafo Mensah | | |
| Greater Accra Regional Minister | Sheikh I.C. Quaye | | |
| Northern Region | Prince Imoru Andani Ben Salifu | 2001 – 2002 2002 – ? | Resigned following Yendi conflict |
| Upper East Region | Mohamed Salifu | | |
| Upper West Region | Mogtari Sahanun | | |
| Volta Regional Minister | Kwasi Owusu-Yeboah | | |
| Western Region | Joseph Boahen Aidoo | | |

### Ministers of state (2005–2009)

There was a cabinet reshuffle on 28 April 2006. There was a second cabinet reshuffle to release ministers with presidential ambitions in July 2007.
| Portfolio | Minister | Time frame | Notes |
| President | John Kufuor | January 2001 – January 2009 | |
| Vice President | Aliu Mahama | January 2001 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs later Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD | Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Akwasi Osei-Agyei | Apr 2003 – Jul 2007 Jul 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Interior | Papa Owusu-Ankomah Albert Kan Dapaah Kwamena Bartels Kwame Addo-Kufuor | 2005 – 2006 2006 – 2007 2007 – 2008 2008 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Finance and Economic Planning | Kwadwo Baah Wiredu Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei | 2005 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Defence | Kwame Addo-Kufuor Albert Kan Dapaah | 2001 – 2007 6 Aug 2007 – 6 Jan 2009 | |
| Minister for National Security | Francis Poku | 2006 – January 2009 | New portfolio |
| Attorney General and Minister for Justice | J. Ayikoi Otoo Joe Ghartey Ambrose Dery | 2005 – 2006 2006 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Health | Major Courage Quashigah (rtd) | 2005 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Education and Sports later Minister for Education, Science and Sports | Yaw Osafo-Maafo Papa Owusu Ankomah Dominic Fobi | 2005 – 2006 2006 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Food and Agriculture | Ernest Akubuor Debrah | 2005 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Fisheries | Gladys Asmah | 2005 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Trade and Industry (later) Minister for Trade and Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiative | Alan Kyeremanteng Joe Baidoo Ansah Papa Owusu Ankomah | 2003 – 2007 2007 – 2008 2008 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Private Sector Development & President's Special Initiative | Kwamena Bartels | 2005 – 2006 | Ministry merged with Trade and Industry |
| Minister for Local Government and Rural Development later Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment | Charles Bimpong Bintim Stephen Asamoah-Boateng Kwadwo Adjei-Darko | 2005 – 2006 2006 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Information later Minister for Information and National Orientation | Daniel Kwaku Botwe Kwamena Bartels Oboshie Sai-Cofie | 2005 – 2006 2006 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City later Minister for Tourism and Diasporean Relations | Jake Obetsebi Lamptey Stephen Asamoah-Boateng | 2003 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Works and Housing later Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing | Hackman Owusu-Agyeman Boniface Abubakar Saddique | 2005 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Public Sector Reform | Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom (CPP) Samuel Owusu-Agyei | 2005 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Communication | Albert Kan Dapaah Prof. Mike Oquaye Dr. Ben Aggrey Ntim | 2005 – 2006 2006 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Roads and Highways | Richard Winfred Anane vacant Godfred T. Bonyon | 2005 – 2006 2006 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | Resigned after adverse findings against him by the CHRAJ. |
| Minister for Ports, Harbours and Railways | Prof.Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi | 2001 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Aviation | Gloria Akuffo | 2006 – January 2009 | Newly created ministry |
| Minister for Energy | Prof. Mike Oquaye Joseph Kofi Adda Felix Owusu-Adjapong | 2005 – 2006 2006 – 2008 2008 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines | Prof. Dominic Fobih Esther Obeng Dapaah | 2003 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Environment and Science | Christine Churcher | 2005 – 2006 | |
| Minister for Regional Co-Operation and NEPAD | Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku | 2003 – 2006 | |
| Minister for Women and Children's Affairs | Hajia Alima Mahama | 2005 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Manpower Development and Employment now Ministry for Manpower, Youth and Employment | Joseph Kofi Adda Boniface Abubakar Saddique Nana Akomea | 2005 – 2006 2006 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Minister of State for Culture and Chieftaincy | Sampson Kwaku Boafo | 2006 – January 2009 | New portfolio |
| Minister for Presidential Affairs | Kwadwo Mpiani | 2005 – January 2009 | |
| Minister for Parliamentary Affairs | Felix Owusu-Adjapong Abraham Ossei Aidooh | 2001 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Senior Minister | Joseph Henry Mensah | 2005 – 2006 | |
| Regional Ministers ||||
| Ashanti Regional Minister | Sampson Kwaku Boafo Emmanuel A. Owusu-Ansah | 2005 – 2006 2006 – January 2009 | |
| Brong Ahafo Region | Nana Kwadwo Seinti Ignatius Baffour Awuah | 2005 – 2006 2006 – January 2009 | |
| Central Region | Isaac E. Edumadze Nana Ato Arthur | 2005 – 2006 2006 – January 2009 | |
| Eastern Region | Yaw Barimah Kwadwo Afram Asiedu | 2005 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Greater Accra Regional Minister | Shiekh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye | 2005 – January 2009 | |
| Northern Region | Boniface Abubakar Saddique Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris | 2005 – 2006 2006 – January 2009 | |
| Upper East Region | Boniface Agambila Alhassan Samari | 2005 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Upper West Region | Ambrose Dery George Hikah Benson | 2005 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 | |
| Volta Regional Minister | Kofi Dzamesi | 2005 – January 2009 | |
| Western Region | Joseph Boahen Aidoo Evans A. Amoah | 2005 – 2006 2006 – January 2009 | |

## Policy

The National Reconciliation Commission was formed in 2004 to investigate human rights abuses committed by previous Ghanaian military juntas and unconstitutional governments.

### Health

Kufuor's National Health Insurance Scheme replaced the existent cash-and-carry system. About 11 million Ghanaians were registered under the new scheme. As president, Kufuor was credited for setting up Ghana's National Ambulance Service.
About 205 hospitals and clinics were constructed and renovated during Kufuor's presidency. This included the addition of the Accident and Emergency Centre at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, which became the largest in Ghana upon completion. Kufuor also introduced free maternal health care in public hospitals.

### Education

Kufuor initiated Ghana's national school feeding programme. He institutionalised the capitation grant for school children at the basic level as each student was entitled to $2 for cultural sports and development. During the Kufuor administration, an additional year was added to the Senior Secondary School curriculum, changing it from three years to four years. It was also renamed Senior High School. He started the model school senior high school initiative to upgrade some deprived schools to the level of some first-class senior high schools.

### Infrastructure

There was a complete renovation of the Accra Sports Stadium and the Baba Yara Stadium as well as the newly built Essipong and Tamale stadium in 2008, in order to enhance Ghana's hosting of the CAN 2008. On 27 February 2004, the president commissioned the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange for traffic.
President Kufuor obtained a record $500 million grant from the US's Millennium Challenge Account for economic development. The fund was anchored on unleashing the entrepreneurial, creative and innovative potential of Ghanaians as a means of creating wealth as well as removing all barriers in the form of social challenges Ghanaians faced. This socio-economic vision included the Five Priority Areas Programme: the pursuit of good governance, modernisation of agriculture for rural development, private sector participation, enhanced social services, and vigorous infrastructural development. The fund also served as the source of finance for the construction of the George Walker Bush Highway.

## Re-election

Four candidates contested the 2004 Ghanaian general election.
Kufuor was re-elected in presidential and parliamentary elections held on 7 December 2004, earning 52.45% of the popular vote in the first round. This avoided a run-off and resulted in the New Patriotic Party securing more seats in the Parliament of Ghana.

### Coinciding parliamentary elections

Kufuor's New Patriotic Party won 128 seats in parliament, for a governing majority of 26.
| Affiliation | Members |
| New Patriotic Party (NPP) | 128 |
| National Democratic Congress (NDC) | 94 |
| People's National Convention (PNC) | 4 |
| Convention People's Party (CPP) | 3 |
| Independent | 1 |
| Speaker and Deputies | (3) |
| Total | 230 |
| Government Majority | 26 |