President Kufuor Leaves For Abuja

President John Agyekum Kufuor left Accra on Wednesday to attend the sixth African, African-American Summit, which is underway in that country.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, Minister of Foreign affairs, accompanied the President.

In a pre departure briefing Mr Kwabena Agyapong, Press Secretary to the President told Journalists that the summit, which is under the theme: "Africa, the Continent of Possibilities" is to forge links between Africa and the Diaspora and would attract 18 African Heads of State and 500 participants representing both the private sector and leading non governmental organizations from Africa and the US. He said the conference was also in the furtherance of the African Union objective to unify Africans in the Diaspora.

Mr Agyapong said President Kufuor would deliver a paper, which would centre on areas where America could assist Africa such as HIV/AIDS and Poverty Alleviation.

The African, African-American Summit was founded by the Dr Leon H. Sullivan, a dynamic Baptist Preacher, who established Opportunities Industrialization Centres, a self-help and job training programme now operating in 15 countries.

The conference has so far been held in six African countries including Ghana.

The summit had to be postponed following the death of Dr Sullivan and again in the aftermath of the attacks in New York and Washington DC on September 11 2001.

The Rev Andrew Young, former US Ambassador to the United Nations and Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, would chair the Summit.

The Vice President Alhaji Alui Mahama; Nana Stephen Owusu Nsiah, Inspector General of Police; Some Ministers of State and Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saw off President Kufuor, who returns on Thursday.