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.Elections in Ghana African Elections Database 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 NotesPresident John Kufuor Jan 2001 - Jan 2005 Vice President Aliu Mahama Jan 2001 - Jan 2005 Minister for Foreign Affairs Hackman Owusu-AgyemanNana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo 2001 – Apr 2003Apr 2003 – 2007Minister for Interior Malik Al-Hassan YakubuHackman Owusu-Agyeman 2001 – 20022003 – 2005 Resigned following Yendi conflictMinister 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-AddoPapa Owusu Ankomah 2001 – 20032003 – 2005 Minister for Education laterMinister for Education, Youth and Sports Prof. Christopher Ameyaw AkumfiKwadwo Baah Wiredu 2001 – 20032003 – 2005 Minister for Health Richard Winfred AnaneDr. Kwaku Afriyie 2001 – 20032003 – 2005 Minister for Food and Agriculture Major Courage Quashigah 2001 – 2005Minister for Fisheries Ishmael Ashitey 2001 – 2005 Minister for Trade and Industry Dr. Kofi Konadu AprakuAlan Kyeremanteng2001 – 20032003 – 2007Ministry for Local Government and Rural DevelopmentKwadwo Baah-WireduKwadwo Adjei Darko2001 – 20032003 – 2005Minister for Manpower Development and EmploymentCecilia Ladze BannermannYaw Barimah2001 – 20032003 – 2005Minister for Energy Albert Kan DapaahDr. Paa Kwesi Nduom (CPP)2001 – 20032003 – 2005Minister for MinesCecilia Ladze Bannermann2003 – 2005 Minister for Lands, Mines and Forestry Dr. Kwaku AfriyieProf. Dominic Fobih2001 – 20032003 – presentMinister for Works and Housing Kwamena BartelsAlhaji Mustapha Idris Ali2001 – 20032003 – 2005Minister for Women and Children's AffairsMrs. Gladys Asmah2001 – 2005Minister for Tourism laterMinister for Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City Hawa YakubuJake Obetsebi Lamptey2001 – May 20022003 – 2007Minister for Environment, Science and Technology laterMinister for Science and Environment Prof. Dominic Kwaku FobihProf. Mike OquayeProf. Kasim Kasanga 2001 – 20032003 – 2005Minister for Public Sector Reform and National Institutional Renewal ProgrammeJoseph Henry Mensah2003 – 2005Minister for Presidential Affairs Jake Obetsebi Lamptey 2001 – 2003Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Felix Owusu-Adjapong2003 – 2007 Minister and Leader of Government Business Joseph Henry Mensah 2001 – 2003Minister for Roads, Highways laterMinister for Roads, Highways and Transport Kwadwo Adjei-DarkoRichard Winfred Anane2001 – 20032003 – 2006Minister for Ports, Harbours and RailwaysProf.Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi2003 – presentMinister for Regional Co-Operation and NEPADDr. Paa Kwesi Nduom (CPP)Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku? – 20032003 – 2006Minister for Transport and Communications Felix Owusu-Adjapong 2001 – 2003Minister for Communications and TechnologyAlbert Kan Dapaah2003 – 2006Minister for Private Sector DevelopmentCharles Omar NyannorKwamena Bartels2001 – 20032003 – ?Minister for InformationJake Obetsebi LampteyNana Akomea? – 20032003 – 2005Minister for Youth and Sports Alhaji Mallam Issah 2001Minister of State (media relations) Elizabeth Ohene 2001 – ?Minister of State for primary, secondary and girl-child education Christine Churcher 2001 – 2005Regional MinistersAshanti 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 Salifu2001 – 20022002 – ? Resigned following Yendi conflictUpper 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 NotesPresident John Kufuor January 2001 – January 2009 Vice President Aliu Mahama January 2001 – January 2009 Minister for Foreign Affairs laterMinister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-AddoAkwasi Osei-Agyei Apr 2003 – Jul 2007Jul 2007 – January 2009Minister for Interior Papa Owusu-AnkomahAlbert Kan DapaahKwamena BartelsKwame Addo-Kufuor 2005 – 20062006 – 20072007 – 20082008 – January 2009Minister for Finance and Economic Planning Kwadwo Baah WireduDr. Anthony Akoto Osei 2005 – 20072007 – January 2009Minister for Defence Kwame Addo-KufuorAlbert Kan Dapaah 2001 – 20076 Aug 2007 – 6 Jan 2009 Minister for National Security Francis Poku 2006 – January 2009 New portfolioAttorney General and Minister for JusticeJ. Ayikoi OtooJoe GharteyAmbrose Dery2005 – 20062006 – 20072007 – January 2009Minister for Health Major Courage Quashigah (rtd) 2005 – January 2009Minister for Education and Sports later Minister for Education, Science and Sports Yaw Osafo-MaafoPapa Owusu AnkomahDominic Fobi 2005 – 20062006 – 20072007 – January 2009Minister for Food and Agriculture Ernest Akubuor Debrah 2005 – January 2009Minister for Fisheries Gladys Asmah 2005 – January 2009Minister for Trade and Industry (later)Minister for Trade and Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiative Alan KyeremantengJoe Baidoo AnsahPapa Owusu Ankomah2003 – 20072007 – 20082008 – January 2009Minister for Private Sector Development & President's Special Initiative Kwamena Bartels 2005 – 2006 Ministry merged with Trade and IndustryMinister for Local Government and Rural Development later Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment Charles Bimpong BintimStephen Asamoah-BoatengKwadwo Adjei-Darko2005 – 20062006 – 20072007 – January 2009Minister for Information laterMinister for Information and National Orientation Daniel Kwaku BotweKwamena BartelsOboshie Sai-Cofie2005 – 20062006 – 20072007 – January 2009Minister for Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City laterMinister for Tourism and Diasporean Relations Jake Obetsebi LampteyStephen Asamoah-Boateng 2003 – 20072007 – January 2009Minister for Works and Housing later Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing Hackman Owusu-AgyemanBoniface Abubakar Saddique 2005 – 20072007 – January 2009Minister for Public Sector Reform Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom (CPP)Samuel Owusu-Agyei 2005 – 20072007 – January 2009Minister for Communication Albert Kan DapaahProf. Mike OquayeDr. Ben Aggrey Ntim 2005 – 20062006 – 20072007 – January 2009Minister for Roads and Highways Richard Winfred AnanevacantGodfred T. Bonyon 2005 – 20062006 – 20072007 – January 2009 Resigned after adverse findings against him by the CHRAJ.Minister for Ports, Harbours and RailwaysProf.Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi2001 – January 2009 Minister for Aviation Gloria Akuffo 2006 – January 2009 Newly created ministryMinister for Energy Prof. Mike OquayeJoseph Kofi AddaFelix Owusu-Adjapong 2005 – 20062006 – 20082008 – January 2009Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines Prof. Dominic FobihEsther Obeng Dapaah 2003 – 20072007 – January 2009Minister for Environment and Science Christine Churcher 2005 – 2006Minister for Regional Co-Operation and NEPADDr. Kofi Konadu Apraku2003 – 2006Minister for Women and Children's Affairs Hajia Alima Mahama 2005 – January 2009Minister for Manpower Development and Employment nowMinistry for Manpower, Youth and Employment Joseph Kofi AddaBoniface Abubakar SaddiqueNana Akomea 2005 – 20062006 – 20072007 – January 2009Minister of State for Culture and Chieftaincy Sampson Kwaku Boafo 2006 – January 2009 New portfolioMinister for Presidential Affairs Kwadwo Mpiani 2005 – January 2009Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Felix Owusu-AdjapongAbraham Ossei Aidooh2001 – 20072007 – January 2009Senior Minister Joseph Henry Mensah 2005 – 2006Regional MinistersAshanti Regional Minister Sampson Kwaku BoafoEmmanuel A. Owusu-Ansah 2005 – 20062006 – January 2009Brong Ahafo Region Nana Kwadwo SeintiIgnatius Baffour Awuah 2005 – 20062006 – January 2009Central Region Isaac E. EdumadzeNana Ato Arthur 2005 – 20062006 – January 2009Eastern Region Yaw BarimahKwadwo Afram Asiedu 2005 – 20072007 – January 2009Greater Accra Regional Minister Shiekh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye 2005 – January 2009Northern Region Boniface Abubakar SaddiqueAlhaji Mustapha Ali Idris 2005 – 20062006 – January 2009Upper East Region Boniface AgambilaAlhassan Samari 2005 – 20072007 – January 2009Upper West Region Ambrose DeryGeorge Hikah Benson 2005 – 20072007 – January 2009Volta Regional Minister Kofi Dzamesi 2005 – January 2009Western Region Joseph Boahen AidooEvans A. Amoah 2005 – 20062006 – 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.