PRESIDENT J. A. KUFUOR JOINS COLLEAGUES FOR HIGH-LEVEL MEETING

President J. A. Kufuor will on Monday join colleague Heads of State and Government at UN Headquarters in New York for a high-level meeting on "Africa's development needs: state of implementation of various commitments, challenges and the way forward."

Under the auspices of the UN, the meeting is intended to focus attention on the contributions of the industrialized nations to Africa's development, the commitments they have made at various summits to Africa and how much has been accomplished.

The high-level meeting will also examine the role of multilateral financial institutions in Africa's quest to move forward.

The UN General Debate of the Assembly however officially opens on Tuesday September 23rd with a report from Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and statements from Brazilian President Lula da Silvia and US President George Bush.

While in New York President Kufuor will hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia, Prime Minister Ralp Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and NATO Secretary-General Jaap De hoop Scheffer among others.

President Kufuor will also participate in a private sector forum on "The Millennium Development Goals and Food Sustainability" as well as a special event on Maternal Newborn and Child Health to be co-hosted by President MichelleBachelet of Chile and President Taja Halonen of Finland.

The 63rd General Assembly will be President Kufuor's last UN General Assembly appearance as President of Ghana and the President will on Wednesday September 24, host his colleagues to a cocktail to bid them farewell.

Signed. Andrew Awuni Press Secretary to The President & Presidential Spokesman

September 21, 2008.