Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has publicly expressed his disappointment over what he describes as a lack of recognition and engagement from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the political party he once led to two decisive electoral victories.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by aspiring presidential candidate Bryan Acheampong, Kufuor lamented what he called a growing culture of disregard within the party, particularly toward its elders and founding members.
“I don’t understand why my own party, the NPP, has sidelined me,” he said.
He added that although he led the NPP to power and served as President of Ghana from 2001 to 2008, the current party system appears to think it is “wise to ignore and sideline” him in shaping the party’s future.
“I’ve been in this party all these years, and I became president for two terms from 2001 to 2008, but the system thinks it’s wise to ignore and sideline me,” Kufuor bemoaned.
The former President, who served from 2001 to 2009, played a pivotal role in shaping the modern NPP and remains one of its most influential statesmen.
He said by 1969, he was a member of Parliament and deputy foreign minister in the government of Kofi Abrefa Busia.
His remarks are likely to spark internal reflection within the party, especially as it prepares for the 2028 general elections.
Kufuor did not mention any specific incident or individual but noted that “the party appears to have lost its soul – the values of inclusion, respect, and unity that made us strong are fading.
The former President’s remarks come at a time when the NPP is facing internal tensions ahead of the 2028 general elections.
Several senior figures within the party have in recent months voiced concerns about a perceived concentration of power in a small circle close to the current leadership.
Kufuor was careful not to mention specific individuals but warned that marginalising experienced voices could be detrimental to party unity and national stability.
Kufuor won the presidential election of December 2000; in the first round, held on 7 December, Kufuor came in first place with 48.4%, while the late John Atta-Mills, Jerry Rawlings’ (late) Vice-president, came in second with 44.8%, forcing the two into a run-off vote.
In the second round, held on 28 December, Kufuor was victorious, taking 56.9% of the vote. When Kufuor was sworn in on 7 January 2001, it marked the first time in Ghana’s history that an incumbent government had a peaceful transition of power to the opposition.
Kufuor was re-elected in presidential and parliamentary elections held on 7 December 2004, earning 52.45% of the total votes cast.
