I entered politics in my 20s but became president at 62 – Kufuor

Former President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor, reflected on his remarkable political journey during an interview on Joy News’ PM Express. Kufuor entered politics in his 20s but only assumed the presidency at the age of 62, a span of 40 years marked by significant challenges and adversity. His early political career was abruptly cut short by the military coup in January 1972, resulting in his arrest and a 15-month imprisonment alongside other political figures from the Second Republic.

Instead of being discouraged, Kufuor credits his time in prison and the subsequent years of political instability for deepening his understanding of leadership and governance.

Kufuor painted a vivid picture of the Ghanaian nation during successive military regimes, describing it as a place crippled by fear, economic stagnation, and institutional decay. Citizens were silenced under a pervasive "culture of silence," where open political discourse was met with severe intimidation. Even after the restoration of constitutional rule under the 1992 Constitution, structural and economic vulnerabilities persisted, leading to widespread disillusionment among the populace.

Upon securing the electorate’s mandate in the 2000 elections, Kufuor took office with a clear determination to provide Ghanaians with a tangible alternative to the decades of misrule they had endured. He reflected on his life’s purpose, stating, "I went into politics in my 20s. I became president age 62. I was determined to lead a government that would make our nation get the practical experience of what could be other than what the nation had become used to for a whole period of about 40 years."

Kufuor’s tenure as President of the Fourth Republic was characterized by a commitment to socio-economic reforms and a break from the "culture of silence" that had dominated Ghanaian politics.