Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has finally spoken about the long-circulating allegation in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidate in 2008, which claimed he supported Alan Kyerematen over Nana Akufo-Addo.
It will be recalled that ahead of the NPP’s primaries, there were claims that then-President John Agyekum Kufuor preferred Alan Kyerematen over Nana Akufo-Addo to be his successor.
According to John Agyekum Kufuor, he never supported Alan Kyerematen against anybody, as he maintained neutrality in internal party contests.
He highlighted that the claims have survived for years despite having no factual basis.
Speaking in an interview with Deloris Frimpong Manso, shared on X on December 6, 2025, Kufuor explained, “I never supported him against anybody. I didn’t give him anything to aid him go and defeat anybody.”
Former President Kufuor recounted in 2000, after the NPP’s victory, that he attempted to bring Alan into his government, but he refused him.
“When I contacted him to make him a Minister, he turned down the offer,” Kufuor added.
Also, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, in that same interview, vented his disappointment and frustration with the Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
John Agyekum Kufuor highlighted that the Akufo-Addo government started promising in 2016, but after the COVID-19 pandemic, the government performed poorly.
According to John Agyekum Kufuor, the Akufo-Addo government, after COVID, was doing things he did not understand.
He revealed that the Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration. Implemented policies without consulting him.
The former President Kufuor added that Akufo-Addo’s leadership style contributed to the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 general election.
Former President Kufuor explained. “During the 2016 election, they rode on my achievements to win power, but after they came into government, things changed… They started very well, but when COVID-19 came, things began to shift. I will commend him for how he handled the COVID-19 pandemic, but afterwards, I didn’t understand many of the things they were doing.
Things like the bond market and the National Cathedral… They didn’t consult me. All I knew was that they were building it. I initially thought it was a private initiative, only to later realise they were using government resources. They even demolished the judges’ building for it, and yet they still couldn’t complete it. Also, with the PDS”, he said.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor further touched on the NPP defeat in the 2024 election, “In 2016, we won the election with a landslide victory. In the 2020 elections, there were tensions which led to a hung parliament; the president got a majority, but it was a reduced majority. Then four years later it should be that you cannot take the Ghanaian electorate for granted”.
He further advised the NPP to be united and true to themselves, adding that truth and transparency will help the party return to power.
“They should stay true to themselves. They may not all be friends, but since they are bonded by the party’s principles, when it comes to the work, we should present a united front. That is what Ghanaians want”, he added.