President Kufuor arrives from Maputo

Accra, July 12, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor arrived in Accra this evening from Maputo Mozambique where he attended the Second Extra Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU).

The Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo accompanied him.

Speaking to Journalists on arrival Nana Akufo-Addo, said the meeting went well adding that President Kufuor had the opportunity to give an account of the conflict resolution in West Africa especially in La Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia.

He said the meeting expressed total support for peace initiatives by ECOWAS, especially the Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo's offer of asylum for Liberian Leader Mr Charles Taylor.

Nana Akufo-Addo said Ex-President Alpha Konare of Mali was elected as the new Chairman of the Union, as well as his Deputy, a former minister of Rwanda.

Nana Akufo-Addo said Ghana was working to rectify the protocol on the establishment of an African parliament and very soon an announcement would be made to that effect.

The Foreign Minister said President Kufuor also held talks with the presidents of Mali, Namibia, Benin and Angola.

He said Ghana and Nigeria were to support Benin's candidature as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council adding that the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) programme had been integrated into the AU.

Dr Kunadu Apreku who was also on the trip said the NEPAD would be the centre-peace of the economic programme of the AU. He said Africa would produce its own resource before calling for outside assistance.

At the airport to meet the President were, Mr Felix Owusu Agyepong, Majority Leader in Parliament and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, ministers of state and officials from the foreign ministry.