Director-General of UNESCO arrives

Accra, Jan. 8, GNA- The Director-General of the United Nations Educational Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) Koichiro Matsuura arrived in the country this afternoon for a three-day visit at the invitation of President John Agyekum Kufuor.

His wife, Mrs Takako Matsuura and a team of four from the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France accompanied him.

The visit coincides with the second ECOWAS Ministers and Experts of Education meeting taking place in Accra from January 6 to January 20. The Director-General is expected to have a private meeting with President Kufuor to discuss issues he initiated in Ouagadougou in March last year.

These are related to discussions on UNESCO's support efforts for African member states in ensuring effective implementation of NEPAD objectives, particularly in making education a top priority for development in the 21st century.

He would also hold a joint working session with Ministers in charge of UNESCO's fields of competence and representatives of other UN bodies.

The UNESCO Director-General would also visit the Cape Coast Castle and the University of Cape Coast and attend a mini durbar among other engagements.

At the airport to meet him were, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and the Modernisation of the Capital City, Mr Baah Wiredu, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports and Prof. George Hagan, Chairman of the National Commission on Culture and Members of the Diplomatic Corps.