Ex-President John Kufuor seated with Dr Aryee in a group picture with the stars and officials of JAK Foundation
The John Agyekum Kufuor (JAK) Foundation has intends to raise a total of GH¢80 million, approximately $15 million for the establishment of an Endowment Fund in honour of its founder, ex-President John Kufuor.
The fundraising campaign, which was launched yesterday in Accra in celebration of Mr Kufuor’s 80th birthday anniversary, which falls on December, 2018, is themed: ‘80 for 80.”
The funds would be used to sustain the vision of Mr. Kufuor as far as leadership and governance is concerned.
About $ 5 million is expected to be used to construct the Kufour Centre for Leadership and Governance at the University of Ghana, Legon while $10 million to be invested under an Endowment Fund to support the various programmes.
To achieve the Foundation’s 80for80 dream, a number of ‘A stars’ including former captain of the Black Stars, Stephen Appiah; current coach of the Black Stars, Kwesi Appiah; hip-life musician, Okyeame Kwame, among others, have been tasked to undertake various activities aimed at raising the amount.
Coach Kwesi Appiah and Stephen Appiah have been tasked with the responsibility of organizing a special soccer match in honour of the former President in October 2018 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, while CEO of the EIB Group and renowned broadcast journalist, Bola Ray is to organize a celebrity walk on June 9.
An estimated 80,000 people, including celebrities from Ghana and overseas, are expected to embark on a special walk with the former president.
Okyeame Kwame has been assigned the task of hosting a musical concert in August or September as part of the campaign to be followed by a gala night on December 8, the birthday of ex-President.
The whole campaign would be climaxed on December 9, 2018 with a non-denominational Thanksgiving Service to be held at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Former Speaker of Parliament, Doe Adjaho and ex-Chief Justice, Georgina Woods, were declared as the patrons for the ‘80for80’ campaign.
Mr. Kufuor, in a statement, said that the major cause of Africa’s under-development over the centuries has been “poor leadership.”
The stars also pledged to undertake their tasks to make the project a successful one, thanking Mr Kufuor for his visionary leadership over the years.
Founder of the Salt and Light Ministries International, Dr. Joyce Aryee, who officially launched the campaign, explained that Africans ought to appreciate their traditional system of governance.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the JAK Foundation, Prof Baffour Agyeman-Duah, said the proceeds shall be used to run the various programmes of the Foundation.
The programmes, he said, include Kufuor Scholars Program, a transformational leadership training campaign for tertiary students, Kufuor Elections Observers Groups and the Kufuor Prize for Best Community Leadership, among others.
By Melvin Tarlue