Addo Kufuor quits government?

Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence and a key presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has blazed the trail by formally tendering his resignation to his boss, President John Agyekum Kufuor, in response to a directive that those who seek to succeed him should quit their portfolios.

Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, by the decision, has opened a new chapter in the NPP’s march towards the 2008 polls, which is gradually heating up.


Communications Minister, Prof Mike Oquaye, is also said to have tendered his resignation to pursue his presidential ambition.


It is expected that more letters will be handed to the Office of the President, before or after today’s Cabinet Meeting.


Dr. Addo-Kufuor told DAILY GUIDE in an exclusive interview yesterday at his Burma Camp office that his decision was based on principle.


“I believe that a man must live by his words. The decision is the price one must pay for aspiring to serve his country at another level,” he said in a very sober mood.

This move is expected to be emulated by others with similar ambitions within the next few days, in consonance with the presidential fiat.


Eight ministers are expected to bow out in a dramatic style, after the presidential marching order.


The physician/politician, Dr. Addo-Kufuor, is also the MP for the Manhyia constituency in the Ashanti Region, a position he has held for three consecutive parliamentary terms.


He has been described as one of the leading contenders in the race and by the strategic importance of his portfolio and his blood relationship to the President, the attention of many political observers have been turned to him, with reference to the resignation order.


His decision therefore will come as a shock to observers who speculated that he would be the last to obey Big Brother’s orders.

Addo Kufuor has covered the whole country with his message of service to Ghana and with ample time at his disposal, now that he has resigned, more of his presence is going be felt in the nooks and cranny of the country as he engages the delegates.


Following in Dr. Addo-Kufuor’s foot steps is the Communications Minister, Prof Mike Oquaye, the man who once served as the country’s High Commissioner to India.


The Prof is the MP for Dome/Kwabenya constituency in the Greater Accra Region and it has been gathered that last Tuesday’s Meet the Press was his last official function as a minister.


President Kufuor has not yet responded to the resignation correspondences, but observers are of the opinion that today being Cabinet meeting day, he would state his position on the resignations and other matters.


Last week, media reports said President Kufuor had read the riot act to his ministers who harboured presidential ambitions, asking them to quit his government to concentrate on their campaign.