Kufuor back home after five-nation tour

Accra, June 11, GNA - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor arrived home last night after a 22-day

tour that took him to South Africa, France, Brazil, England and Switzerland. A statement signed by Mr Frank Agyekum, the Spokesperson of the former President said during the

tour former President Kufuor was Guest Speaker at the ninth 'Tswalu Dialogue' in South Africa on

'Managing Fault-Lines' at the Oppenheimer Family reserve at Tswalu in the Kalahari Desert. The Dialogue has been organized since 2002 by the Brenthurst Foundation with support from the

Danish government, the African Union, the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security

Studies, London, the African Centre for Strategic Studies, Washington DC, and the Konrad Adenuar

Foundation, Germany. It was attended by about 50 participants including policy makers, diplomats, academia and experts in

governance, conflict resolution, mediation, security and development. From South Africa former President Kufuor went to Paris for the 3rd edition of 'Convergences 2015,' an

international dialogue on the dynamics between international development, social business and micro-

finance. The former President shared the 'high table' with Mr. Christine Lagarde, the French Minister of

Economic Affairs and Finance and Mr. Bertrand Delanoe, the Mayor of Paris, among others at the

conference organized by Agence Francaise de Development, ACTED and the leading French newspaper, Le

Monde. Former President Kufuor went on to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he participated in the '3rd Global

Forum of the Alliance of Civilization.' The round-table was created by the UN in 2005 to explore the causes of the growing polarization in

the world and put forward practical recommendations to addressing them. President Lula da Silva of Brazil and Mr Ban Ki Moon, The UN Secretary-General were among the

dignitaries in attendance. In London, former President Kufuor held meetings with three organizations, including officials of The

Royal Africa Society. His last stop was in Geneva, Switzerland, where he presided over his first meeting as Chairman of the

Governing Council of Interpeace, the international post-conflict agency. The meeting, among others, resolved that Interpeace deepens its presence among member countries

of the Economic Community of West Africa States.