Kufuor is back from Rwanda

Accra, Oct 19, GNA - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has arrived back home from Kigali, Rwanda, where he opened the national stakeholder conference of the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace (IRDP) on the democratic and integration process in Rwanda.

A statement from the former President"s Spokesman, Mr Frank Agyekum, said the meeting discussed ethnic identity and social cohesion as well as citizen's participation that country's democratic governance. It validated results of a nationwide survey by IRDP on reintegration within the country.

Former President Kufuor chaired the meeting in his capacity as Chairman of the Governing Council of Interpeace which is the international peace-building organization, with operations in Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe and the Middle East.

IPRD is the local partner of Interpeace of which former President Kufuor is the first to chair from the southern hemisphere.

During his two-day visit, former President Kufuor had separate meetings with Rwanda's Chief Ombudsman, Tito Rutaremara, who is also a member of the IRDP board, and the Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo.

He visited the Genocide Memorial where over 250,000 people are buried and paid tribute to all those who fell victim to the genocide. At the permanent exhibition section, the former President appeared deeply moved by what he saw.

Former President Kufuor arrived in Kigali from Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was Guest of Honour at the launch of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation founded by the former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

He spoke on: "The African Renaissance - Dream or Reality" at the launch of the Foundation and participated in a panel discussion with former Mozambican President, Me Joaquim Chissano and former Italian President, Mr Romano Prodi.

He also delivered speech on: "Africa's Claim of the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities" at the University of South Africa in Pretoria.

In another development, The African Editor's Forum at their biennial meeting in Bamako, Mali, honoured former President Kufuor along with three other former presidents and a President for undertaking "significant improvements to operations of the media" in their countries.

The others were former South African Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki; former Malian President Alpha Konare and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia.

Former President Kufuor, who was represented by Mr Frank Agyekum, his Spokesperson, was honoured for his repeal of the Criminal Libel Law.

Former Presidents Mbeki and Konare were represented by their wives, Zenzi and Aisha respectively, former President Mandela was represented by the Director of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and President Sirleaf was represented by the Liberian Vice-President.

Each of those honoured was presented with a citation and a bronze carving.