President back from South Africa

The President, Mr. J.A Kufuor, returned home last Friday evening after attending the southern African summit of the World Economic Forum in Durban, South Africa.

The President was invited by the South African President, Thabo Mbeki, held bilateral talks with his South African counter part, in an effort to improve trade relations between the two countries. Following the talk, South Africa has agreed to restore credit to Ghana to be used to re-equipping the Police Service.

It is expected that the police would be equipped with patrol and armoured vehicles, communication gadgets and other relevant things. President Kufuor also held talks with IMF officials on Ghana's economic programme.

A further meeting was held with some members of the country's economic management team, who accompanied the President, principally on Ghana's poverty reduction paper, which goes to the IMF next month.

The President also met members of the Ghanaian communities in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban and recommended them for their annual remittances that have helped in the development of the country.

He urged them to do more to help the country and assured them of the government's preparedness to tap their rich resources for the good of the country President Kufuor asked them to take advantage of the forthcoming "home coming summit" and contribute new ideas to the development of the country.

On the conference itself, President Kufour said he called on African leaders to chart a new course by strengthening democratic institutions in order make democracy sustainable in Africa. He called on them to create the needed environment to attract foreign investment and improve conditions of life for the people.

President Kufuor said his participation in the summit was worthwhile because it enabled him to make an input from the West African sub-region on issues like political stability and regional security.

Besides, he and his delegation held discussion with key executives of top South African companies interested in Ghana's agro-business, telecommunication sand transport sector among others Mr. J.H Mensah, Leader of Government Business who was among was among the delegation ,said they made fruitful contacts in South Africa.

He said participants at the summit-commended Ghana for the smooth way she conducted her recent elections Mr. Mensah, the Foreign Minister, Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, and Trade and Industry Minister, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku,were on the President's entourage.Dr. Apraku is still in South Africa, in a bid to finalize effort at attracting investments into the country.