By Emmanuel Fletcher 
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has boldly declared that former Prime Minister Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia has not received fair treatment in Ghana’s political history.
Speaking at the 2026 Busia Institute Lecture in London on Sunday, August 9, Kufuor reflected deeply on the legacy of the late Prime Minister and the roots of Ghana’s centre-right political tradition.
He noted that critics have judged many of Prof Busia’s most controversial decisions without taking time to understand the tough economic and social conditions he faced during his time in office.
Kufuor explained that Busia was a selfless leader who made heavy personal sacrifices to steer the young Ghanaian nation out of economic shambles toward genuine citizen ownership.
The former President recalled how the Busia political tradition suffered a major setback when a military coup overthrown his government on January 13, 1972, keeping the tradition out of power for nearly three decades.
That long political drought finally ended in 2001 when the New Patriotic Party won power, carrying forward the foundational values and democratic principles established by the late Prime Minister.
Describing Prof Busia as his chief mentor, Kufuor shared how Busia’s leadership style and democratic philosophy directly shaped his own political career and governance approach.
He urged current political leaders, scholars, and young citizens to protect and honor Busia’s legacy as a vital pillar of Ghana’s democratic history and constitutional development.
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