Ghana hailed for interventions in conflicts

Accra, Oct. 7, GNA - Ghana was hailed by members of the international community at the 58th Session of United Nations General Assembly in New York, for her consistent and successful interventions in conflicts in Africa.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Foreign Minister, who announced this in Accra on Tuesday, said during various meetings, private and public at the UN General Assembly in New York, Ghana's name came up for commendation for its commitment to efforts at stemming conflicts in Africa.

"We did not know that our effort at helping to stabilize the continent was that widespread" he said.

"We were surprised that in almost every meeting we went that effort was highly recognised and commended."

He was giving Journalists what he called a detailed report on President John Agyekum Kufuor's two-week trip to the US, Japan and London to attend the 58th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York and the Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD) in Tokyo, Japan.

The Minister said the President, like other Heads of State, was also in New York to show solidarity with the UN and its General Secretary, Busumuru Kofi Anan over the trying moments the UN and its Secretary-General had encountered within the past few months.

He said in the President's address to the General Assembly, he emphasised the need for the UN to be more involved in matters in the West African Sub-Region, especially in the conflict zones such as Liberia, Guinea-Bissau and other areas.

Nana Akufo-Addo said some Heads of Governments at the meeting were of the view that West Africa should be left alone to handle its own matters, but President Kufuor strongly opposed that view and pointed out that the international community had a responsibility to help address the problems plaguing the Sub-Region.

"The President specifically suggested that it was imperative for the UN forces to start moving into Liberia now to beef up the 3,500 ECOWAS troops present in that country," he said.

"The President was of the view that the UN must not wait to gather all the 12,000 troops it has promised to offer before moving in - they can move into Liberia bit by bit."

Nana Akufo-Addo said the President prayed the UN to ensure that the October 1, 2003 deadline set for the UN troops to move into Liberia was met. The Minister said later at a meeting with President George Bush and seven other high-powered US delegations, the President appealed to the US to support the reconstruction of Liberia, adding that in response, President Bush gave an assurance of US support in that direction.

Nana Akufo-Addo said at a meeting with Busumuru Anan, the President also called for a project in Liberia to completely disarm the combatant in that country, adding that the exercise must be part of the budget of the UN and its partners.

He said the President observed that the right of children and women in conflict zones should be the prime concern of both parties involved in the conflict and those involved in combating the conflicts. "The President also met with ECOWAS Leaders attending the UN General Assembly Session and discussed ways of uniting forces to avert the atrocities in Liberia," he said.

The Minister said prior to the main session of the UN General Assembly, there were two separate conferences on HIV/AIDS and Terrorism, adding that President Kufuor was a principal speaker at the HIV/AIDS conference.