President Kufuor arrives in Dakar for ECOWAS summit

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday arrived in Dakar, Senegal to attend the 25th Summit of ECOWAS Authority of 20 Heads of State and government.

The two-day summit from December 20-21 would be opened by the Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade. President Kufuor, accompanied by Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs was met on arrival by the Prime Minister Mame Madior Boye.

The national anthems of the two countries were played and presiden Kufuor inspected a guard of honour.

Other Heads of State who had arrived were from Guinea Bissau, Mali, Cote D I'Dvoire, Togo, Burkina Faso and the Prime Minister of Cape Verde.

President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria is expected at the summit today, December 20 but President Charles Taylor of Liberai has made it clear he would not attend the 20 summit.

The main agenda for the summit would be an opening address by the host President Wade and a report by the out-going Executive Secretary, Mr Lansana Kouyate of Guinea.

Elections for a new Chairman of ECOWAS would be held, but this has been overshadowed by the election of a new Executive Secretary which was being contested by three countries. They are Ghana, Gambia and Benin.

The post is likely to be taken over by the Ghanaian diplomat, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas who has been tipped by the delegates who attended the 48th Conference.

Other contestants are Mr Jeggan Senghor of the Gambia and Mr Alber Tevoedjere of Benin.

Dr Ibn Chambas said sustaining peace, stability and security within the sub-region would be his priority area when given the nod, adding "peace, stability and 20 security are necessary prerequisite for socio-economic development".

"We have to zero-in for critical issues such as trade, infrastructure development and poverty reduction, "he added.

President Wade is expected to be appointed the new Chairman of the 20 16-member ECOWAS to succeed the out-going Chairman, President Aplha Oumar Konare of Mali.