President Kufuor arrives from Abuja

President John Agyekum Kufuor arrived from Abuja, Nigeria on Monday after attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit which ended on Monday afternoon.

He was accompanied by his wife Threresa Kufuor, the Foreign Minister, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Presidential Spokesman.

Briefing journalists on the highlight of the Summit, Nana Akufo-Addo described the summit as a success, adding that a wide range of issues were discussed where they re-affirmed the core values of the Commonwealth.

He said such core values included respect for human rights, the rule of law, economic development, which were to be known as "The Asu-Rock Declaration".

According to the Foreign Minister the failure of the Cancun WTO meeting was discussed and they agreed that the secretariat should be set up at the Commonwealth on the WTO as to resume further talks on equitable development for all.

He said they also discussed subsidy on agriculture and the training of human resources for industrial development.

On the issue of Zimbabwe the Nana Akufo-Addo said six member nations were tasked to deliberate on it and furnish the Summit after which they came out with the findings that the suspension should continue and that they should discuss the way forward on Zimbabwe and bring a report back to the Commonwealth.

Nana Akufo-Addo debunked news reportage that Ghana voted against the lifting of the ban on Zimbabwe.

He explained that at such meetings, they do not vote but that decisions are reached by consensus.

The Foreign Minister said President Kufuor had bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of India, who expressed apology for his inability to honour his visit to Ghana due to pressing issues in his country.

There were other meetings with the Bangladesh delegation on the need to co-operate in the area of agriculture.

President Kufuor's meeting with the Jamaican Prime Minister concluded that the Ghana-Jamacan Joint Commission should be re-activated.

He said one significant thing about the meeting was that President Kufuor was chosen to speak on behalf of the African Caucus of the Summit.

Later, President Kufuor held a press conference in response to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) press conference held in Nigeria last month.

According to Nana Akufo-Addo the press conference was to inform Nigerians that it was not true that the Government of Ghana was abusing human rights.

At the airport to meet the President was the Vice President, Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State, Chief of Defence Staff, Lt-Gen Seth Obeng, the IGP, Nana Owusu Nsiah, Mr Ibrahim Omar, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.