Kufuor leaves for South Africa and Rwanda

Accra, Oct. 10, GNA - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday night left Accra for a 10-day visit to Johannesburg, South Africa and Kigali, Rwanda for different international assignments. Former President Kufuor will speak as Guest of Honour on: "The African Renaissance, Dream or Reality," at the launch of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation in Johannesburg which is expected to be attended by about five sitting and past heads of state among others.

A statement from the office of former President Kufuor and signed by Mr Frank Agyekum, Spokesperson, said the former President would propose the toast at a pre-launch dinner where former Tanzanian President, Benjamin Mkapa would be the Principal Speaker. The Foundation, owned by former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, aims to "assist in training and developing African cadres who would dedicate themselves to the implementation of the African agenda in all its manifestations."

The statement said the Foundation had linkages with renowned universities worldwide and would pursue an agenda that would among other things, offer assistance to African governments to follow-through with commitments they made on the international scene.

In Kigali, former President Kufuor as Chairman of the Interpeace Governing Council, an international peace building organization, will open the National Group Meeting of the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace (IRDP), a local partner organization. Over 150 representatives from across Rwanda will gather to discuss obstacles to lasting peace at the meeting.

Former President Kufuor's schedule includes a visit to the Genocide Memorial in Kigali and a tour of the newly opened IRDP Peace Centre. Former President Kufuor is the first chairman from the southern hemisphere of the Interpeace Governing Council which operates in Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe and the Middle East.

In another development, The African Editors Forum (TAEF), an organization that brings together editors, senior editorial executives and media trainers from across the continent, will honour former President Kufuor along with four other leaders at its biannual conference in Bamako, Mali from October 14 - 16.

TAEF is honouring former President Kufuor for his repeal of the Criminal Libel Law.

Former South African Presidents, Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki; former Malian President, Alpha Konare and sitting Presidents of Liberia and Mali will be honoured for undertaking 'significant improvements to operations of media' in their countries. About 200 editors from across the continent will attend the conference being held under the theme: "Media and the Challenge of Peace in Africa." Former President Kufuor is expected back on the 18th of October 2010. 10 Oct. 10