Former President John Agyekum Kufuor is celebrating his 75th birthday today, December 8 2013.

Ex-President Kufuor is popularly known as the ‘Gentle Giant’ and ruled Ghana from 2001 to 2009.

During his reign, Kufuor, who succeeded former president JJ Rawlings, took some firm decisions that were met with stiff opposition from his critics, but eventually helped transform the fortunes of the country.

Notable among the drastic policies taken by the Kufuor administration was the heavily criticized Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC), the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law as well as the birth of the Fast Track High Courts among others.