Esko Tapani Aho (born May 20, 1954) is a statesman and former Prime Minister of Finland.

Aho was born in Veteli, Finland. He was known by the nickname "Kannuksen Kennedy" due to his streamlined and well coiffed habitus, a comparison with United States President John F. Kennedy.

Aho was also the chairman of the Centre Party (one of the three major Finnish political parties, somewhat on the conservative side of the centre).

He is best known for leading Finland into the European Union.

After losing a bid for President of Finland to Tarja Halonen in 2000, Esko Aho retired from active politics in the early initially through a "sabbatical leave" of one year to lecture at Harvard University. Currently he serves as the president of the Sitra , the Finnish National Fund for Research and Development.