Kufuor Travels From Japan to South Africa

....arrives in South Africa for World Economic Forum

Accra, June 3, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, on Tuesday to participate in the four-day World Economic Forum which opens on Wednesday.

An official statement issued by Mr. Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman, said the forum would discuss, among other topics, "Africa's response to the Economic Partnership Agreements", "Taking control of global partnerships" and "Political transitions: Africa's Achilles heel".

The World Economic Forum is a private meeting of heads of state and government, senior government ministers, heads of regional organisations and select private sector representatives.

Among other leaders that would participate in the form are, Presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Umar Yar'Adua of Nigeria, Paul Kagame of Rwanda; Jacob Zuma, leader of the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, Prime Minister Raila Odinga of Kenya and several chief executives of the world's major corporate entities.

The statement said there would be a special session on; "The growth, prospects and potential of Ghana" on Wednesday with President Kufuor as the lead discussant and Mr. Neville Isdel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Coca Cola Company, as Chairman.

President Kufuor in Cape Town for 18th World Economic Forum

From Kwaku Osei Bonsu, GNA Special Correspondent, Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town, June 3, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday arrived in Cape Town, South Africa to join about 800 other decision-makers from 50 countries for the 18th World Economic Forum on Africa.

They would focus on ways of addressing challenges facing the continent to enable it to become a more reliable and competitive partner in the global economy.

"Capitalizing on Opportunity", is the theme for the three-day high level discussions whose core pillars would be built on "Re-engineering growth, Innovate or Perish, Partnership without Borders and Licence to Lead."

President Kufuor, accompanied by senior government officials, is expected to use the platform to highlight Ghana's economic growth prospects and potential.

South African President Thabo Mbeki, President Umaru Musa Yar'Dua of Nigeria, Malawian President Bingu Wa Mutharika, President Paul Kagame Of Rwanda, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, Mr Neville Isdell, Chairman and Chief Executive of Coca Cola Company, Mr Douglas Alexander, British Secretary of State for International Development, Mr Donald Kaberuka, President of African Development Bank and Jendayi Frazer US Assistant Secretary of State for

Africa, are among key figures, taking part in the panel discussions.

Meanwhile, President Kufuor, during a stop-over in London, en route to Cape Town from Japan, where he addressed the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV), granted audience to the Commonwealth Secretary General, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, who updated him on the activities planned by the Secretariat.