John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor was the President of Ghana from (2001-2009) and Chairperson of the African Union (2007-2008). Kufuor was educated at Prempeh College in Kumasi and in Great Britain. He was called to the bar in 1961 at Lincoln’s Inn, London, and then studied at the University of Oxford, where in 1964 he earned a master’s degree in philosophy, politics, and economics.
After completing his education, Kufuor returned to Ghana and launched his political career.
He helped found the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and in 1996 became the party’s candidate for president. The NPP nominated him again to stand in the December 2000 election. Kufuor ran on a platform that emphasized improving the Ghanaian economy and educational system and capitalized on the mood of voters who were ready for a change in leadership. Kufuor garnered the most votes in the presidential election but did not have a majority, thus requiring a runoff election to be held later that month. Kufuor won the runoff election, capturing 57 percent of the vote..