Addo Kufuor lights up the pack

Competence with a proven track record

FORMER DEFENCE Minister and NPP presidential aspirant, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, has received ringing endorsements from some of Ghana’s international partners in his bid to win the ruling party’s flagbeareship race.

Aides say most of these endorsements have come in the form of support from various countries to various projects he has undertaken in his constituency as an MP and in his former ministerial job in charge of the nations’ Defence.

The man who has campaigned on the need for the NPP to use competence, personal and ministerial achievements as the yardsticks for electing its next flagbearer has also received a clean bill of health from auditors of all contracts executed during his term of office as the longest serving Minister at one portfolio under his elder brother’s administration.

Addo Kufuor was until few weeks ago when he resigned to concentrate on his presidential ambition the Minister of Defence.

He has consistently insisted that he is in the NPP aspirant race on his own merit and wants to be President to offer the quality leadership that the country requires at this stage of its development.

According to him, the aspirants of the party should be judged on their achievements, track records and vision; nothing more, nothing less.

He says he has made his mark as an individual, MP and Minister and says anyone who wants to be President must show what he achieved while in office.

His formidability, competence and pedigree as a top notch politician in his own right has, however, never been in doubt by many, following his exemplary record as the Minority Spokesman on Health during the ruling party’s days in opposition in the 90s.

Supporters say it is because of this that he has always urged party supporters who would attend the NPP National Congress to accept whatever gifts and money any aspirant would give them but elect a flagbearer who has a good track record and would secure victory for NPP.

Addo Kufuor, who was educated and trained in the United Kingdom, has been involved in Ghanaian politics from as far back as the 1980s. He is however more known within the medical profession due to his tireless work in that area and his academic work at the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Medical Schools.

A founding member of the Danquah-Busia Club and the NPP, Addo Kufuor has consistently challenged his colleague aspirants to show their achievement as ministers and be judged on it and not just sweet-talk their way to the presidency.

Among the numerous achievements he has persistently held high are his individual sourcing of funds for a number of projects, including the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, which has trained top-notch military personnel from over 95 countries worldwide in its relatively short existence; multi-million dollar Beijing Army Barracks at the Burma Camp for the military personnel and the demolition and construction of a new Burma Hall at Burma Camp, with a theatre that rivals any major theatre in the world.

He single-handedly and without cabinet discussion or involvement began the construction of the $10 million Defence Ministry Headquarters at Burma Camp after securing a $9 million freebie (grant) for the ongoing construction, which he believes would be one of his lasting legacies to the Army.

Like President Kufuor, Addo Kufuor, who has been the MP for Manhyia since 1997, is a former member of the Executive Council of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club. He also served as the physician in charge of the club for many years.

Aides say he is highly responsible for improving relations between civilians and soldiers.

Some of his numerous achievements whiles in office are captured below.