Chatham House Prize 2008

President John KufuorPresident John Kufuor of Ghana was voted by members the winner of the 2008 Chatham House Prize. John Kufuor became President in December 2000 in Ghana's first peaceful transfer of power from one elected government to another. Peace and economic growth have characterized his two terms in office. Known as the 'Gentle Giant', he has taken a leading role in mediating in regional conflicts, including those in Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire. In 2007 Ghana was Chair of the African Union, and President Kufuor worked to mediate in multiple crises across the continent.

President Kufuor is expected to stand down at the end of 2008. He will do so with the admiration of his citizens and the respect of the international community, having made economic growth a priority and contributed to social freedom and the growth of a robustly free press. His lasting legacy to Ghana will be to leave office in the peaceful manner in which he entered it.

More about the Chatham House Prize >>

Chatham House Prize 2008
Back row (L-R): Dr Robin Niblett, Director, Chatham House; Lord Ashdown; Dr DeAnne Julius, Chairman, Chatham House; Lord Hurd; Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Managing Director, World Bank; Mr Malcolm Brinded CBE. Front row (L-R): HRH The Duke of Edinburgh; HE Mrs Theresa Kufuor; HE President John Kufuor of Ghana; Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of The Ashanti Kingdom.

The President visited London on Monday 27 October to collect his award from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The presentation was made at a dinner at Drapers' Hall in the City of London with keynote speeches by Lord Ashdown, a President of Chatham House, Malcolm Brinded CBE, Executive Director of Exploration and Production, Royal Dutch Shell, Baroness Vadera, and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Managing Director of the World Bank.

CH Prize 2008
HE President John Kufuor with HRH The Duke
of Edinburgh.

 CH Prize 2008
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II with Lord Ashdown, one of the
three presidents of Chatham House.
CH Prize 2008
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation interviews Alex
Vines OBE, Director of Research, Chatham House.

 CH Prize 2008
Lyse Doucet with President Kufuor.
CH Prize 2008
Dr Robin Niblett welcomes guests to the 2008
Chatham House Prize ceremony.

 CH Prize 2008
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh presents the Chatham House
Prize Award and scroll to President Kufuor.

CH Prize 2008
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala gave one of the keynote
speeches at the event.

 CH Prize 2008
The award ceremony was held at the Drapers' Hall.

CH Prize 2008
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh with President Kufuor.

 CH Prize 2008
Baroness Vadera gave one of the keynote
speeches at the event.

CH Prize 2008
President Kufuor with the Chatham House Prize.

 CH Prize 2008
The presentation was followed by a dinner at the
Drapers' Hall.

Sponsors

Sponsors of the 2008 event included:

  • Royal Dutch Shell plc (lead sponsor)
  • Bloomberg
  • British American Tobacco
  • Chevron
  • Ghana Cocoa Marketing Company (UK) Limited
  • Ghana International Bank
  • Oranto Petroleum
  • Pan-African Capital Group LLC and Databank Group
  • Tullow Oil
Moore-Wilson Web Design London