Vice President returns from Earth Summit

The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, returned on Friday from Johannesburg South Africa, where he attended the Earth Summit on Sustainable Development.

Mrs Theresa Kufuor, participated in a meeting of the African First Ladies on HIV/AIDS during the summit attended by Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Science and Environment and Professor Kassim Kasanga, Minister of Land and Forestry.

Vice-President Mahama described the summit as successful and said it reviewed progress since the last meeting in Rio de Janeiro. He said it was realised that 10 years after the Rio summit poverty and environmental degradation still prevailed and the leaders re-affirmed their commitment to sustain development in the areas of water and sanitation, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity and to reduce poverty and environmental degradation by 2015.

They also discussed technology transfer and capacity building as well as donor funding and direct foreign investment for developing countries. Alhaji Mahama said the summit was "people centred" because of the participation and impact of NGOs and development agencies.

Ghana was one of 25 countries selected as vice-chairman of one of the plenary sessions. Prof Fobih said cabinet had approved the ratification of the Kyoto protocol to be presented to Parliament when it resume sitting.

He described the summit declaration as the "future for the sustainable development of the world" and urged all governments to work for its realisation. Over 100 heads of state and governments and representatives from all over the world attended the summit. Sheikh I.C. Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Idriss, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mr James Naadje, Chief of Protocol met the Vice President.