Dignitaries grace Kufuor’s 80th birthday party
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last Saturday hosted a party at the Banquet Hall of the Jubilee House to mark the 80th birthday of former President J. A. Kufuor.
It was attended by ministers of state, senior government and New Patriotic Party (NPP) officials and close and extended family members of the celebrant.
Also present were some members of the clergy, two former First Ladies, Mrs Fulera Limann and Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings; the Chief Justice, Madam Sophia Akuffo; a former Second Lady, Mrs Ramatu Aliu Mahama, and the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Jean Mensa.
The party was characterised by exciting anecdotes, jokes, laughter, reminiscence of old days and commendations.
Testimony
A visibly excited former President Kufuor commended President Akufo-Addo for honouring him with the party, which he described as “tops of honour and the icing on the cake”.
He said the event was a landmark to inspire graceful interactions between incumbent and past politicians.
He said along the line, after his two terms in office as President, he lost the feeling that politics was an honourable job but the party organised for him had brought him to the realisation that it was.
He said perhaps he might have done something good, for which reason many people were wishing him well, with the President, supported by the entire government, crowning it with a dinner.
In a jovial mood, Mr Kufuor said he welcomed the prayers for more years of life and gave an anecdote of an old man who, getting to 90 years, was wished 10 additional years or more by people.
He said the old man told the well-wishers: ‘Now you are telling God to prolong my life; I hope you also tell Him so I do not lose my sight and hearing and that my teeth should not fall off and, above all, tell Him that I should still be powerful’, which drew laughter from the gathering.
Former President Kufuor urged the Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, whom he described as God’s agent on earth, to let God know that even as He extended the time for him (Kufuor), “He should ensure that all these things are intact”.
Bush Library
Mr Kufuor said during the inauguration of the former US President George W. Bush Jnr Library, which was attended by all living former US Presidents, he was surprised that Mr Bill Clinton had referred to Mrs Barbara Bush as his mother.