President Kufuor departs for African Union Summit

Accra, July 7, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor left Accra on Monday afternoon for Maputo, Mozambique to attend the second ordinary session of the Africa Union scheduled for July 10-12. President, who left on the Senegalese Presidential flight, would first fly to Dakar where he would join five other West African Leaders to meet President George Bush before continuing to Maputo. Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister of NEPAD and Regional Integration, Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Presidential Press Secretary, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Minister of Justice and Attorney General and Mr Joseph Henry Mensah, Senior Minister accompanied him.

In a pre-departure interview, Mr Agyepong said the agenda of the Africa Union meeting included the election of a substantive chairman for the Union, which would be contested by the former Malian President Alpha Konare and the current Chairman, Ivorian Amara Essy. He said they would also discuss conflict situations on the continent, notably Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire and Democratic Republic of Congo as well as a draft protocol on an Africa Court of Justice. Mr Agyepong said the summit would also discuss the implementation of NEPAD as a vital tool for the development of Africa.

Already in Maputo are Nana Akufo-Addo, Foreign Minister, Mr Kwabena Adusa Okercheri, Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Mr Doe Adjaho, Minority Chief Whip, who are attending the Executive Council meeting preceding the AU meeting. In Dakar, President Kufuor would join five other West African Head of State to have a meeting with President George Bush to discuss America's role in conflict resolution in the West Africa Sub-Region. The countries include Cape Verde, Benin, Mali, The Gambia and Senegal.

The meeting with President Bush would also focus on how America could assist to equip the ECOWAS force to be deployed in Liberia. Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the Inspector General of Police and some Ministers were at the Kotoka International Airport to see the President off. He is expected to return at the weekend.