President Kufuor with United States President George W. Bush during a visit to the USA in 2001

John Agyekum Kufuor (born December 8, 1938) is the current president of Ghana since January 7 2001. He ran for election in 2000 and won, succeeding Jerry Rawlings, who defeated him when he previously ran for President in the election in 1996, and having perhaps the first peaceful transition of power in Ghana since the country's independence was declared. Kufuor was recently re-elected in presidential and parliamentary elections held on December 7 2004 with 52.45% of the popular vote, while at the same time Kufuor's party, the New Patriotic Party, was able to secure more seats in the Parliament of Ghana .

Oxford-educated and a devout Roman Catholic, President Kufuor has made economic reform one of his top priorities. He has also allowed for a great deal of media freedom in Ghana. He has been accused by some of being "boring," to which he responded, "If boredom gives us peace and stability for people to go about their normal businesses and live in dignity, then I would say let's have more boredom." [1]

See also

• List of national leaders