Kufuor Laments Exclusion from NPP Affairs
Former President says age should not justify exclusion from party affairs
- Kufuor says he feels sidelined by the NPP despite his contributions.
- He insists age should not be used as a reason to ignore his input
- His concerns have triggered an emergency National Council meeting
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, now 86, has openly expressed discontent over what he sees as deliberate exclusion from the inner workings of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), despite decades of sacrifice and dedicated service.
In a candid conversation with Dr. Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi and NPP flagbearer hopeful, the statesman questioned why he is being sidelined, asserting that his age should not be a barrier to being involved in party matters.
“Am I so diminished that I no longer matter? I still have my mental clarity. I’m not a museum piece. At the very least, I should be consulted,” Kufuor remarked.
He revisited his political journey, highlighting his early role as a Member of Parliament in 1969 and his time as a Deputy Minister under Prime Minister K.A. Busia. He also reminded listeners of the personal cost he endured, including over a year in Ussher Fort prison after the 1972 military coup — a sacrifice he notes few current leaders have made.
Kufuor, who led the NPP to its first electoral victory in 2000, said he now feels neglected by a party he helped shape. “If there are any true elders in the NPP, I am certainly one,” he emphasized, urging that experience and wisdom should not be cast aside with age.
Sources indicate that the former President has formally raised concerns with the party leadership, prompting an emergency National Council meeting set for Monday, July 14. His dissatisfaction has reignited discussions about generational transitions, respect for veteran politicians, and the preservation of the party’s institutional memory.
Political observers suggest Kufuor’s comments may push the NPP to confront uncomfortable truths about how it handles leadership transitions and its treatment of senior figures.
While the exact cause of his remarks remains unclear, reports suggest Kufuor may not attend the upcoming National Delegates Conference on July 19 — a decision some within the party have already criticized.
As the party faces increasing scrutiny, one message rings clear from Kufuor: age does not erase dedication, and those who built the foundation of the NPP should not be forgotten.
