President Kufuor meets the press

Accra, Aug.9, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday corrected a number of misrepresentations and half-truths carried in a section of the media when hosted his third media encounter at the Castle Osu, Accra.

Flanked by Vice President Aliu Mahama and other Ministers of State, confident looking President Kufuor, spiced his speech with humorous remarks over media bashing on the acquisition of a hotel by his son, Chief John Addo Kufuor and allegations of corruption by Government functionaries, attracting prolong laughter from the audience. Dressed in an ash suit, President Kufuor said the encounter was eight months after his re-election for a second term and used the more than two hours session, to give an overview of the policy direction of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He told the more than 165 local and foreign journalists, who had filled the white washed alley of the Christianborg Castle, adorned with the national colours: "The past eight months have been very eventful and steadily, Ghana is regaining its position of honour within the comity of nations."
President Kufuor referred to Mr John Yeboah, a physically challenged Ghanaian, who had won the prestigious Arthur Ashe Courageous Award as part of the self -evaluation of Ghana.
"Previous winners of this prestigious award include Mohammed Ali for boxing and George Oppong Weah for soccer.
"In the same vein, I congratulate Miss Margaret Simpson for making history last Saturday. She is the first Ghanaian to mount the rostrum for wining a bronze medal in heptathlon at the world athletic championship currently underway in Helsinki in Finland."
President Kufuor, who is a football fan, renewed his call on the Black Stars, the national senior soccer team, to prepare adequately to clench the six points needed to qualify for the World Cup Tournament slated for 2006 in Germany.
He said the Government was on track to provide the necessary facilities for the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2008 Tournament, adding: "We are alive to stage a successful tournament."
President Kufuor said the Government would ensure that the Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Secondi/Takoradi stadiums would be ready for the CAN 2008 while the Robert Mensah Stadium at Cape Coast was also being prepared for any eventuality.
President Kufuor had his first media encounter after his first 100 days in office on April 18, 2001 while the second was 21 months later on