Presidency of John Kufuor

• 2000
• 2004

Main article: 2000 Ghanaian general election

Results of both election rounds

The election began on 7 December 2000 with a second round of the presidential election on 28 December. ^[1] 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. ^[2]

Personnel

Main article: Kufuor government

Ministers of state (2001–2005)

There was a cabinet reshuffle on April 1, 2003. ^[3]

Presidency of John Kufuor 7 January 2001 –7 January 2009
President	John Agyekum Kufuor

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 [4] Apr 2003 – 2007 [3]
Minister for Interior	Malik Al-Hassan Yakubu Hackman Owusu-Agyeman	2001 – 2002 [4] [5] 2003 – 2005 [3]	Resigned following Yendi conflict
Minister for Finance and Economic Planning	Yaw Osafo-Maafo	2001 – 2005 [4]
Minister for Defence	Kwame Addo-Kufuor [6]	7 Jan 2001 – 6 Aug 2007 [4]
Attorney General and Minister for Justice	Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Papa Owusu Ankomah	2001 – 2003 [4] 2003 – 2005 [3]
Minister for Education later Minister for Education, Youth and Sports	Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi Kwadwo Baah Wiredu	2001 – 2003 [7] 2003 – 2005 [3]
Minister for Health	Richard Winfred Anane Dr. Kwaku Afriyie	2001 – 2003 [7] 2003 – 2005 [3]
Minister for Food and Agriculture	Major Courage Quashigah	2001 – 2005 [4]
Minister for Fisheries	Ishmael Ashitey	2001 – 2005 [8]
Minister for Trade and Industry	Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku Alan Kyeremanteng	2001 – 2003 [4] 2003 – 2007 [3]
Ministry for Local Government and Rural Development	Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu Kwadwo Adjei Darko	2001 – 2003 [4] 2003 – 2005 [3]
Minister for Manpower Development and Employment	Cecilia Ladze Bannermann Yaw Barimah	2001 – 2003 [8] 2003 – 2005 [3]
Minister for Energy	Albert Kan Dapaah Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom  (CPP)	2001 – 2003 [7] 2003 – 2005 [3]
Minister for Mines	Cecilia Ladze Bannermann	2003 – 2005 [3]
Minister for Lands, Mines and Forestry	Dr. Kwaku Afriyie Prof. Dominic Fobih	2001 – 2003 [7] 2003 – present [3]
Minister for Works and Housing	Kwamena Bartels Alhaji Mustapha Idris Ali	2001 – 2003 [7] 2003 – 2005 [3]
Minister for Women and Children's Affairs	Mrs. Gladys Asmah	2001 – 2005 [4]
Minister for Tourism later Minister for Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City	Hawa Yakubu Jake Obetsebi Lamptey	2001 – May 2002 [7] [9] 2003 – 2007 [3]
Minister for Environment, Science and Technology later Minister for Science and Environment	Prof. Dominic Kwaku Fobih Prof. Mike Oquaye Prof. Kasim Kasanga	2001 – 2003 [4] 2003 – 2005 [3]
Minister for Public Sector Reform and National Institutional Renewal Programme	Joseph Henry Mensah	2003 – 2005 [3]
Minister for Presidential Affairs	Jake Obetsebi Lamptey	2001 – 2003 [7]
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs	Felix Owusu-Adjapong	2003 – 2007 [3]
Minister and Leader of Government Business	Joseph Henry Mensah	2001 – 2003 [4]
Minister for Roads, Highways later Minister for Roads, Highways and Transport	Kwadwo Adjei-Darko Richard Winfred Anane	2001 – 2003 [7] 2003 – 2006 [3] [10]
Minister for Ports, Harbours and Railways	Prof.Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi	2003 – present [3]
Minister for Regional Co-Operation and NEPAD	Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom  (CPP) Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku	? – 2003 2003 – 2006 [3] [11]
Minister for Transport and Communications	Felix Owusu-Adjapong	2001 – 2003 [8]
Minister for Communications and Technology	Albert Kan Dapaah	2003 – 2006 [3]
Minister for Private Sector Development	Charles Omar Nyannor Kwamena Bartels	2001 – 2003 [7] 2003 – ? [3]
Minister for Information	Jake Obetsebi Lamptey Nana Akomea	? – 2003 2003 – 2005 [3]
Minister for Youth and Sports	Alhaji Mallam Issah [12]	2001
Minister of State (media relations)	Elizabeth Ohene	2001 – ? [7]
Minister of State for primary, secondary and girl-child education	Christine Churcher	2001 – 2005 [8]
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 [5] 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. ^[11] There was a second cabinet reshuffle to release ministers with presidential ambitions in July 2007. ^[13]

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 [11]	Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Akwasi Osei-Agyei	Apr 2003 – Jul 2007 [14] Jul 2007 – January 2009 [13]
Minister for Interior	Papa Owusu-Ankomah Albert Kan Dapaah Kwamena Bartels Kwame Addo-Kufuor	2005 – 2006 [14] 2006 – 2007 [11] 2007 – 2008 [15] 2008 – January 2009 [16]
Minister for Finance and Economic Planning	Kwadwo Baah Wiredu Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei	2005 – 2007 [14] 2007 – January 2009 [13]
Minister for Defence	Kwame Addo-Kufuor [14] [6] Albert Kan Dapaah [6]	2001 – 2007 6 Aug 2007 – 6 Jan 2009
Minister for National Security [11]	Francis Poku	2006 – January 2009 [11]	New portfolio
Attorney General and Minister for Justice	J. Ayikoi Otoo Joe Ghartey Ambrose Dery	2005 – 2006 [14] 2006 – 2007 [11] 2007 – January 2009 [15]
Minister for Health	Major Courage Quashigah (rtd)	2005 – January 2009 [14]
Minister for Education and Sports later Minister for Education, Science and Sports [11]	Yaw Osafo-Maafo Papa Owusu Ankomah Dominic Fobi	2005 – 2006 [14] 2006 – 2007 [11] 2007 – January 2009 [15]
Minister for Food and Agriculture	Ernest Akubuor Debrah	2005 – January 2009 [14]
Minister for Fisheries	Gladys Asmah	2005 – January 2009 [14]
Minister for Trade and Industry (later) Minister for Trade and Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiative [11]	Alan Kyeremanteng Joe Baidoo Ansah Papa Owusu Ankomah	2003 – 2007 [14] 2007 – 2008 [13] 2008 – January 2009 [16]
Minister for Private Sector Development & President's Special Initiative	Kwamena Bartels	2005 – 2006 [14]	Ministry merged with Trade and Industry
Minister for Local Government and Rural Development later Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment [11]	Charles Bimpong Bintim Stephen Asamoah-Boateng Kwadwo Adjei-Darko	2005 – 2006 [14] 2006 – 2007 [11] 2007 – January 2009 [15]
Minister for Information later Minister for Information and National Orientation [11]	Daniel Kwaku Botwe Kwamena Bartels Oboshie Sai-Cofie	2005 – 2006 [14] 2006 – 2007 [11] 2007 – January 2009 [13]
Minister for Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City later Minister for Tourism and Diasporean Relations [11]	Jake Obetsebi Lamptey Stephen Asamoah-Boateng	2003 – 2007 [14] 2007 – January 2009 [15]
Minister for Works and Housing later Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing	Hackman Owusu-Agyeman Boniface Abubakar Saddique	2005 – 2007 [14] 2007 – January 2009 [15]
Minister for Public Sector Reform	Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom  (CPP) Samuel Owusu-Agyei	2005 – 2007 [11] [17] 2007 – January 2009 [13]
Minister for Communication	Albert Kan Dapaah Prof. Mike Oquaye Dr. Ben Aggrey Ntim	2005 – 2006 [14] 2006 – 2007 [11] 2007 – January 2009 [13]
Minister for Roads and Highways	Richard Winfred Anane vacant Godfred T. Bonyon	2005 – 2006 [18] [10] 2006 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 [15]	Resigned after adverse findings against him by the CHRAJ.
Minister for Ports, Harbours and Railways	Prof.Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi [14]	2001 – January 2009
Minister for Aviation [11]	Gloria Akuffo	2006 – January 2009 [11]	Newly created ministry
Minister for Energy	Prof. Mike Oquaye Joseph Kofi Adda Felix Owusu-Adjapong	2005 – 2006 [14] 2006 – 2008 [11] 2008 – January 2009 [16]
Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines	Prof. Dominic Fobih Esther Obeng Dapaah	2003 – 2007 [14] 2007 – January 2009 [15]
Minister for Environment and Science	Christine Churcher	2005 – 2006 [18] [11]
Minister for Regional Co-Operation and NEPAD	Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku	2003 – 2006 [3] [11]
Minister for Women and Children's Affairs	Hajia Alima Mahama	2005 – January 2009 [14]
Minister for Manpower Development and Employment now Ministry for Manpower, Youth and Employment	Joseph Kofi Adda Boniface Abubakar Saddique Nana Akomea	2005 – 2006 [14] 2006 – 2007 [11] 2007 – January 2009 [13]
Minister of State for Culture and Chieftaincy [19]	Sampson Kwaku Boafo	2006 – January 2009 [19]	New portfolio
Minister for Presidential Affairs	Kwadwo Mpiani [19]	2005 – January 2009
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs	Felix Owusu-Adjapong Abraham Ossei Aidooh [14]	2001 – 2007 2007 – January 2009 [15]
Senior Minister	Joseph Henry Mensah	2005 – 2006 [14] [19]
Regional Ministers
Ashanti Regional Minister	Sampson Kwaku Boafo Emmanuel A. Owusu-Ansah	2005 – 2006 [14] 2006 – January 2009 [19]
Brong Ahafo Region	Nana Kwadwo Seinti Ignatius Baffour Awuah	2005 – 2006 [14] 2006 – January 2009 [19]
Central Region	Isaac E. Edumadze Nana Ato Arthur	2005 – 2006 [18] 2006 – January 2009 [19]
Eastern Region	Yaw Barimah Kwadwo Afram Asiedu	2005 – 2007 [14] 2007 – January 2009 [13]
Greater Accra Regional Minister	Shiekh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye	2005 – January 2009 [18]
Northern Region	Boniface Abubakar Saddique Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris	2005 – 2006 [14] 2006 – January 2009 [19]
Upper East Region	Boniface Agambila Alhassan Samari	2005 – 2007 [14] 2007 – January 2009 [13]
Upper West Region	Ambrose Dery George Hikah Benson	2005 – 2007 [14] 2007 – January 2009 [13]
Volta Regional Minister	Kofi Dzamesi	2005 – January 2009 [14]
Western Region	Joseph Boahen Aidoo Evans A. Amoah	2005 – 2006 [14] 2006 – January 2009 [19]

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. ^[20] About 11 million Ghanaians were registered under the new scheme. As president, Kufuor was credited for setting up Ghana's National Ambulance Service.

The KATH received an Accident and Emergency Centre.

About 205 hospitals and clinics were constructed and renovated during Kufuor's presidency. ^[21] This included the addition of the Accident and Emergency Centre at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, which became the largest in Ghana upon completion. ^[22] Kufuor also introduced free maternal health care in public hospitals. ^[23]

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. ^[24]

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. ^[25]

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. ^[26]

Re-election

Main article: 2004 Ghanaian general election

Election results

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. ^[2]

Coinciding parliamentary elections

See also: List of MPs elected in the 2004 Ghanaian parliamentary election

Kufuor's New Patriotic Party won 128 seats in parliament, for a governing majority of 26. ^[27]

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

See also

• Aliu Mahama

References

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21. "Presidency". Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
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27. https://swap.stanford.edu/20121211163203/http%3A//results.ec.gov.gh/assets/file/2004ParliamentaryDetResults.pdf ^{[ bare URL PDF ]}