At 86, Ghana’s former president John Agyekum Kufuor is preparing for a new role far from the corridors of state power: media baron. The two-term leader, remembered for steadying Ghana’s democracy and ushering in economic reforms in the early 2000s, is now exploring the launch of a pan-African news channel designed to amplify African perspectives in a globalized media landscape.
The idea comes at a time when media ownership across Africa is diversifying, with politicians, business leaders, and even family-owned firms seeking to shape narratives. Kufuor, however, casts his vision as less about politics and more about legacy. Friends and family close to the former president describe him as a man deeply concerned with how Africa is portrayed abroad and how younger generations engage with public life.
In retirement, Kufuor has divided his time between philanthropy, family, and quiet research into the gaps in Africa’s information ecosystem. His household in Accra, where grandchildren crisscross between visitors and meetings, often serves as an informal think tank. Relatives say the media project reflects his desire to marry his passion for public service with his commitment to building institutions that outlast personalities.
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