President of the Republic of Ghana

Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor was born on December 8, 1938 in Kumasi, Ghana. He attended Prempeh College for his Secondary Education, where he passed at the top of his class. He enrolled at Lincoln Inn, London, and was called to the Bar in 1961 at the age of 22.

He then entered Oxford University where he passed his Honours BA degree in 1964 in Economics, Philosophy and Politics. He was subsequently confirmed, in accord with Oxford traditions, with the Master's degree by the University.

Both sides of Kufuor's parentage come from distinguished families whose members include Chiefs, Professionals and Politicians. J. A. Kufuor is happily married to Theresa (Nee Mensah). The marriage is blessed with five children. Mr. Kufuor and his family belong to the Roman Catholic Church.

Mr. Kufuor comes to the Presidency with impressive Public service credentials, spanning over thirty years. In 1967, he was appointed Chief Legal Officer and Town Clerk (City Manager) of Kumasi, the Second largest City of Ghana. He was a member of the 1968-69 and the 1979 Constituent Assemblies that drafted the Constitutions of the Second and Third Republics respectively. In addition he was a Founding Member of the Progress Party (PP) in 1969, the Popular Front Party (PFP) in 1979 and is a Founding Member of the New Patriotic Party(NPP). He has twice been elected as a Member of Parliament, during the Second and Third Republics. He has also been in political detention on two occasions as a result of military coups that overthrew the Second and Third Republics.

He has been a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and in this capacity, he represented Ghana on several occasions. From 1969 to December, 1971, he led Ghana's Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Ministerial Meetings in Addis Ababa, and the Summit Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in Lusaka, Zambia. In 1970, he led the Ghanaian Delegation to Moscow in the Former Soviet Union, Prague (Former Czechoslovakia), and Belgrade (Yugoslavia) to discuss Ghana's indebtedness to these countries.

As the Spokesman on Foreign Affairs and Deputy Opposition Leader of the Popular Front Party (PFP) Parliamentary Group during the Third Republic, he was invited to accompany President Limann to the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Summit Conference in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He was also a member of the parliamentary Delegation that visited the United States of America(USA) in 1981 to talk to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank on Ghana's economic problems.

In January, 1982, the leadership of the All People's Party (APP), which was an alliance of all the opposition parties, advised some leading members, including the Deputy Leader of the Alliance, Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama, the General Secretary, Dr. Obed Asamoah and Mr. J. A. Kufuor to accept an invitation from the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC)to serve in what was purported to be a National Government. Mr. Kufuor was appointed the Secretary for Local Government in this new Government.

As a Secretary for Local Government, he authored the Local Government Policy Guidelines that were to be the foundation of the current decentralized District Assemblies. He resigned within seven months of acceptance of the position after having satisfied himself that the PNDC Government was not the national Government that it promised to be. He was particularly uncomfortable with the brutality, intolerance and abuse of human rights that characterized the PNDC government.

On April 20th 1996, Mr. J. A. Kufuor was nominated by 1034 out of 2000 delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) drawn from all the 200 Constituencies of the Country to run for the President of Ghana on December 10, 1996. After campaigning for less than nine months, Mr. Kufuor polled almost 40% of the popular votes. On October 23, 1998, he was re-nominated by the New patriotic Party not only to run again for President but also to officially assume the position of Leader of the Party.

Mr. J.A. Kufuor won the presidential elections in Dec. 2000 and was sworn in as president on January 9 2001.

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Honourable Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is married to Rebecca (nee Griffiths-Randolph) with five children. He is the eldest of four children of Adeline and Edward Akuffo Addo, former Chief Justice and President of the Second Republic. He was educated at Launching College, Sussex, England and the University of Ghana, Legon (B.Sc. Econs 1967).


He was called to the English bar (Middle Temple) in July 1971, and called to the Ghanaian Bar in July 1975; associate council, Coudert Freres (Brothers), major US law firm, at its office in France (1971-75); junior member of the chambers of U.V. Campbell (1975-79); senior partner and co-founder Prempeh & Co; General Secretary of the People’s Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ) (1977-78).

Vice President, Greater Accra Regional Branch of Ghana Bar Association (1989-91; President, Greater Accra Regional Branch of Ghana Bar Association (1991-1996). Member, General Legal Council (1991-96); Member, General Council of Ghana Bar Association (1991-1996).

Founder and first Chairperson, Ghana Committee on Human and People’s Rights, Member, National Council and National Executive Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) (1992-2000),

1996 and 2000 NPP Member of Parliament for Abuakwa constituency, Chairperson, NPP Internal Affairs Committee, Chairperson, NPP Legal, & Constitutional Affairs Committee, Secretary, NPP Political Committee. Secretary, 1996 NPP Policy Advisory committee and Standing Committee on Subsidiary legislation from 1997 to 2001. Ranking Minority Member on Parliament’s Select Committee on constitutional Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (1997-2001)

He was also Honourary Fellow, Legon Hall, University of Ghana. He is fluent in Twi, Ga, English and French. His hobbies are listening to music and sports.

Minister for Health

Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, the Minister of Health, was born on July 6, 1954, at Sefwi Wiawso in the Western Region. He schooled at the Government School at Sefwi Wiawso between 1960 and 1968 and gained admission to the Saint Augustine’s college at Cape Coast, where he had his Ordinary and Advanced Level Certificates. From 1976 to 1982, Dr Afriyie studied medicine at the University of Ghana Medical School, in Accra Ghana


He has his Masters Degree in Public Health at the University of Tulane New Orleans in the United States majoring in maternal and child health. Dr. Afriyie served at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital as a House Officer and sent to the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital as a medical officer.

In 1985 he was transferred to the Bibiani Government Hospital, where he worked for nine years, eventually becoming the District Director of Health Services. Dr. Afriyie has held positions in his public life. They include Team leader, Ghana’s delegation to the AIDS Conference in Nairobi in 1991; Acting Secretary, Western Regional branch of the Ghana Medical Association; Chairman, Western Regional Branch of the Ghana Medical Association; and Chairman, Western Regional branch of District Medical Officers Group.

The rest are Principal Investigator on Safe Motherhood pilot programme in the Bibiani District; First Vice-Chairman, Western Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); and Second National Vice-Chairman of the NPP.

Minister For Parliamentary Affairs


The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. F.K. Owusu-Adjapong, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akyem Swedru, was educated at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.


He came out in 1970 with a degree in Land Economy and then proceeded to the Boucentrum Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands, where he obtained a diploma in Housing, Planning and Building. He took his Master of Science degree in Urban Land Appraisal at the University of Reading, England.

He passed the Qualifying Certificate in Law and became a professional lawyer after a stint at the Ghana School of Law. Between January and March 1977, he attended the Second Course in Planning and Management at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Achimota.

His experience with the Public and Civil Service dates back to 1970 when he was appointed as an Estate Officer of the Tema Development Corporation. He was also the Chief Estate Manager at the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) between 1975 and 1980.

He has also served as a member of a number of organisations in the country. These include representative of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors at the 1979 Constituent Assembly, Member of the Complaints Committee of the Press Commission in the Third Republic, Representative, Ghana Institute of Surveyors on the International Assets Valuation Standards Committee.

He was the leader of Ghana’s Delegation to the Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy General Assembly and Symposium, London, United Kingdom, and Member of the Non-Performing Assets Recovery Tribunal.

Minister for Ports, Habours & Railways

The Minister for Ports, Habours & Railways, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi was born on January 21st, 1945 at Techiman in the Brong-Ahafo Region. Between 1959 and 1965, Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi attended Adisadel College, where he sat for his Ordinary and Advanced Level Examination.


He gained admission to the University of Ghana in 1965 where he obtained his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees respectively.

In 1972, he proceeded to the University of Michigan in the United States of America where he obtained additional MSC Zoology degree and his Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology.

The Minister for Ports, Habours & Railways started his teaching Career as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Ghana in 1968. From 1972 to 1979, he was a Lecturer at the Zoology Department of the University of Cape Coast.

In 1991, he was promoted to the rank of a full Professor of Zoology. Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi in 1987, participated in a number of activities related to Higher Education in Ghana.

He co-ordinated the introduction of the Semester and Course Unit System at the University of Cape Coast and also co-ordinated the production of academic programmes for the University College of Education, Winneba.

As a Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi chaired various committees at the university and acted as Vice-Chancellor in the absence of the substantive Vice-Chancellor.

One significant activity that he under took in relation to higher Education was that he served as the Chairman of the Committee to Review Staffing in the Polytechnics.

He presented a read paper on decentralisation at the University at a seminar for University Administrators under the auspices of the Tertiary Education Project. The Minister for Ports, Habours & Railways has to his credit 26 publications on various topics in Biology.

Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi has won many awards. Amongst them are the University of Ghana Scholar, 1969-1970, AFGRAD Scholar, University of Michigan 1972-1977, and Senior Research Fellow, Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship at the University College of North Wales, Bengor 1984-1985.

Minister for Roads and Highways

Honourable Dr. Richard Winfred Anane, the Minister for Roads and Highways, was born in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region on March 12, 1954. Between 1969 and 1974, he attended Asanteman Secondary School in Kumasi where he sat for and obtained grade one with distinction in the GCE O' level certificate examination.


He pursued his sixth form course at Aggrey Memorial Secondary School at Cape Coast between 1974 and 1976 and thereafter gained admission to the KNUST to study medicine.

After his studies in medicine, Dr. Anane served as a house officer at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and was subsequently appointed a medical officer at the same hospital.

In 1990, he was promoted to the position of Senior Medical Officer. After some years with the hospital, he joined the Hebrona Hospital as the Medical Director in 1998.

The political authorities of the Minister date back to 1980 when he worked as the Secretary of the USA branch of the defunct Popular Front Party (PFP) and in the following year became the President of the University's branch of the All Peoples' Party.

Dr. Anane also served as the coordinator (Northern Sector) Progress Youth Club and was a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He is a member of National Council of the NPP. He was a member of the Policy Advisory Committee for the 2000 manifesto; Chairman of the sub-committee on Agriculture for the Policy Advisor Committee of the 1996 and 2000 National Campaign teams of the NPP.

The Minister contested on the ticket of the NPP in the 1996 and 2000 parliamentary election and won the seat in the two polls.

During the Second Parliament of the Fourth Republic, Dr. Anane was the Minority Spokesperson for Food and Agriculture, Ranking member, Parliamentary Select Committee and Food Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs and MP responsible for health.

He was also a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Members Holding Office of Project and a member of the Ministerial delegation to the Royal Agricultural Show, Coventry, UK.

Minister for Defence

Hon. Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor the member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia, and the Minister of Defence, was born on July 14th 1940, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. He had his Secondary education at Achimota School and proceeded to study medicine at the University College Hospital Medical School in London.


In 1970, he was awarded a degree in medicine by the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.

He completed his post graduate studies at the Middlesex Medical School Hospital London, UK, in 1975, and worked at several hospitals in UK.

These include West Suffolk General Hospital, Edmonds; St. Charles Hospital, London; Old Church Hospital, Essex; St Helhers Hospital London.

He has held a number of positions, especially in the medical Students Association of Jesus College, Cambridge; past Chairman, Jesus College United Nations Students Association; past National President, Ghana Medical Association, and past Representative for West Africa on the Confederation of African Medical Associations.

Other positions he held are past Chairman of Operations, Prisons Council of Ghana; Member of National council of he New Patriotic Party (NPP); Chairman of Health Committee of NPP; Inspector of Examinations for Final Bachelor of Medicine Examinations, University of Ghana Medical School, and Member of Board of Examiners for foreign trained doctors applying to work in Ghana.

The rest are Member of the House Committee, the Health Committee and the Committee on Selection in Parliament; Medical Director, Kufuor Clinic, Kumasi and part time lecturer, Department of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology) and the member of Parliament for Manhyia.

He has a few publication to his credit. These include Safe Motherhood in the Upper West Region of Ghana, GMA Publication, Editor, Propranolol, Diazepam and their Combination in the Management of Chronic Anxiety in the Ghanaian Patient, Health For all by the Year 2000 ­ Ghana Medical a Journal 1993-94 Volume 27-28.

Minister in Charge for Private Sector Development

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma North, and the Minister for Private Sector Development, Hon. Kwamina Bartels, was born on October 27, 1947, at Agona Swedru, in the Central Region.


He had his secondary education at Secondi College, Nungua Secondary School and Mfantsipim School between 1961 and 1968, where he sat for the G.C.E. Ordinary and Advanced Level Examinations.

Mr. Bartels gained admission into the University of Ghana in 1968, where he studied law. After obtaining a Bachelor of Law degree in 1971, he studied at the Ghana School of Law to become a professional lawyer.

In 1975, Mr. Bartels obtained certificate in Personnel Management at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). He also had a stint at the University of Ife in Nigeria in 1975, where he did a post-graduate course in University Administration.

Mr. Bartels working experience dates back to 1971 where he served as the Administrative Secretary to the Task Force, Food Distribution under the Ministry of Agriculture. He joined the Ghana Food Distribution Corporation (GFDC) as a secretary in 1973 and in the following year ended up at the Accra Polytechnic as a Part-Time lecturer in Commercial Law.

Mr. Bartels joined the University of Cape Coast as an assistant registrar in charge of Staff Training programmes and also served as Secretary to five Statutory University Committees. The Minister for Private Sector Development joined Addae-Twum and Company, a private legal practitioner. He later left for Nigeria where he worked as a Principal Assistant Registrar of the Anambra State Polytechnic.

Mr. Bartels political career began in 1969 when he served as the Secretary of the University of Ghana branch of the erstwhile Progress Party (PP). He was also a member of the Front for Prevention of Dictatorship, which fought against the UNIGOV concept which was the brain child of the late Gen. Kutu Acheampong in 1978.

The MP for Ablekuma North stood on the ticket of the defunct Popular Front Party (PFP) in 1979 but was defeated by the People's National Party (PNP) candidate in the Parliamentary election.

In 1992, Mr. Bartels was also the parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the Agona West Constituency but the Party boycotted the parliamentary elections because of what it described as electoral malpractice. He shifted camp to the Ablekuma North Constituency where he won the 1996 and 2000 parliamentary polls.

Minister for Primary Secondary and Girl Child Education

Ms. Christine Churcher, Minister of State, Primary, Secondary and Girl Child Education was born on September 21,1954, at Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana. She had her elementary education at the Kwesi Plange Primary School at Cape Coast between 1959 and 1965.


Ms. Churcher gained admission to the Mfanstiman Girls Secondary School in 1965 and came out in 1972 and 1975, she furthered her education at the University of Ghana and obtained a degree in English and History.

The Minister started teaching in 1972, when he was posted to her alma mater, Mfantsiman Secondary School, to teach English.

Between 1978 and 1982 Ms. Churcher worked at the Prestea Goldfields Limited as the Administrative Officer and thereafter joined the staff of the Wesley Girls High School as an English Tutor.

The defunct gourmet of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) appointed her in 1998 as the Municipal Chief Executive (DCE) for Cape Coast.

She also worked for the National Council on Women and Development as its Deputy Executive Secretary between 1989 and 1990.

In 1991 she worked for her Part I of a Master of Philosophy degree programme in Adult Education at the University of Ghana.

Ms. Churcher has been in parliament since 1996, representing Cape Coast Constituency and is now the Minister for Primary, Secondary and Girl Child Education.

Minister for Regional Co-operation and NEPAD

Honourable Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, was born on September 7, 1954, at Asante Akumadan, in the Ashanti Region. He had his Secondary education at the Tweneboa Kodua Secondary School between 1967 and 1972 and proceeded to South Albany High School in Oregon, U.S.A. after winning an AFS international essay competition.

Dr. Apraku then obtained a scholarship to pursue a four-year course in Economics, business, and Agriculture at the Oregon State university.
He pursed a Master of Science programme with specialization in Economics Development, Resource and Regional Economics at the same university.

Dr Apraku completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree at the Ohio State University, specializing in Economic Development.

The MP for Offinso North has had a varied working experience, stretching from 1983 to date.

Between 1983 and 1984, he was Economics and Finance Professor at the Rio Grande College, USA and Finance and Economics Professor at Wheeling University from 1984 to 1987.

Dr Apraku lectured as Economics Professor at the University of North Carolina, USA between 1987 and 1995 and also a member of the United Nations observer Missions to South Africa which was charged with the responsibility of organizing, monitoring and conducting South Africa's first all-race democratic elections.

In 1995, he was appointed Economic Affairs Officer to the United Nations Mission of the former republic of Yugoslavia. A year later, he was the head of the Economic Co-ordination and Reconstruction unit, United Nations Missions in the same country.

Minister of Interior

Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyeman was born in 1941 at Effidiase in Koforidua. He attended St. Augustine College from 1975 to 1961 and proceeded to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 1961 to 1965 where he obtained a BSc degree in Agriculture.


In 1969 he obtained his MSc degree Agriculture economics at WYE College University of London, U.K and in 1997 fetched himself a certificate in Agriculture planning from the Institute of Social Studies at the Huge in Netherlands.

Mr. Hackman Owusu served variously under the Food and Agricultural Organization. In 1974, he served as a Field Programme Officer; Economic Analysis Division; 1977 ­ 1979, Cooperation and Liaison Officer, Regional Officer of FAO, Accra; 1979 ­ 84, Chief of Mission, FAO, Zambia; 1984 ­ 1989 FAO representative: Trinidad and Tobago, Carribean, Guyana and Regional Bureau Officer for Africa FAO Headquarters, Rome.

Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyeman joined the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 1992 and was elected treasurer. He won the parliamentary seat of New Juaben North Constituency in 1995 and 2000 and was subsequently appointed Minister of Interior in 2003.