Former President John Agyekum Kufuor had charted a path through banking, law, and politics before becoming Ghana’s President; a journey that shaped his rise to the nation’s highest office.

In a video shared by JoyNews on October 28, 2026, the former president said he became a lawyer at 22, worked in Britain's banking sector, and entered politics at 30, when he became a Member of Parliament (MP) and Deputy Foreign Minister.

Kufuor declares stance on 5-year presidential term

According to him, his early career took him through law, banking and local government administration, which gave him experience in different fields before he rose to become one of Ghana’s most prominent political figures.

Speaking about his career journey, Kufuor said he qualified as a lawyer at 22 but continued his education in Britain, studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University.

“I became a lawyer at the age of 22. I didn't go into practice straight away. I continued with studies, adding philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University,” he said.

While in Britain, Kufuor disclosed that he also got his first job in a bank in the City of London, which he described as a major global financial centre at the time.

He returned to Ghana in 1965 and began practising law at Komfo Anokye Chambers in Kumasi, where he worked as a junior lawyer under the late Victor Owusu.

“I also got the opportunity to work in a bank in the city…Then, soon after, I came back to Ghana in 1965, and that's where I went into law practice a bit, and again, I was very fortunate to be a junior in arguably the foremost chambers, the Komfo Anokye Chambers under the late Victor Owusu,” he disclosed.

Kufuor added that he later moved from legal practice into local government administration at the age of 27 and became the city manager of Kumasi, a position he held for three years.

He said the role gave him experience in administration and managing the affairs of a community, which later proved useful in his political career.

“From there, I went into city management in Kumasi, the second city of Ghana at age 27. I was the city manager of Kumasi for three years, which again gave me insight into administration and, in a way, also political management of a whole community for three years,” he shared.

At 30, Kufuor entered national politics and became an MP during Ghana’s Second Republic under the government of then Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia. He was also appointed Deputy Foreign Minister at the same age.

The appointment, he said, allowed him to represent Ghana at international meetings and engage with other countries on diplomatic matters.

“From there, I went into politics at age 30. I was a Member of Parliament of Ghana and, at the same age, 30, in the Second Republic, Professor Busia made me the Deputy Foreign Minister of Ghana, which again opened the international vista to me.

John Agyekum Kufuor

“I attended the United Nations General Assemblies, the Organization of African Unity, the Non-Aligned Movement, and then the bilateral meetings between our nation and other nations,” he added.

Watch the video below:



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