Kufour says Akufo‑Addo managed Covid‑19 response well

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor praised former President Nana Akufo‑Addo’s leadership during the peak of the COVID‑19 pandemic, calling the administration’s overall management “commendable,” during an interview on The Delay Show on Sunday.

Kufuor told host Delay the show that he was impressed by how the Akufo‑Addo government steered Ghana through an “unprecedented health emergency.” “With what I saw, I could say Akufo‑Addo managed the COVID‑19 situation well,” he stated.

The pandemic first surfaced in 2019 and swiftly became a global crisis. Ghana recorded its initial cases in March 2020 and responded with border closures, partial lockdowns, mask mandates, expanded testing facilities and early COVAX vaccine shipments.

By 2021‑2022, a nationwide vaccination drive reduced severe illness and deaths, even as new variants emerged. As case numbers fell, restrictions were gradually lifted and daily life began to normalise.

While lauding the health response, Kufuor noted that other policy decisions left him “puzzled.” He singled out the handling of the bond market and the controversial National Cathedral project as areas of concern.

“Aside from that, there are certain things I could not wrap my head around, such as the bond market situation and the National Cathedral project—how it was handled and how it wasn’t done finally,” he said.

Kufuor also disclosed that he was never consulted on the cathedral project. “I was not consulted on the National Cathedral project. I don’t go for Cabinet meetings,” he explained, adding, “All of a sudden, you realise something was going on.”

The former president’s comments come as the Aku‑Addo administration continues to face scrutiny over large‑scale infrastructure spending and fiscal policy, while supporters point to the successful containment of COVID‑19 as a major achievement of his tenure.

Analysts say the debate highlights the fine line between public health triumphs and fiscal management challenges in Ghana’s evolving political landscape.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE