President John Evans Atta Mills on Saturday left Accra for Washington DC, USA, to attend the International Conservation Caucus Foundation forum.

The President would be the special guest for the event, which is the most important gathering of conservationists including those from non-governmental organisations and governments.

It seeks to promote strong governmental leadership in the sound management of the world’s natural resources, a statement from the Presidency said earlier.

The over 500 invited guests would include other Heads of State, members of President Obama’s Cabinet, members of the U.S Congress, world business leaders and prominent leaders from international NGOs.

A statement signed by Mr Koku Anyidoho, Spokes Person for the President, copied to the GNA in Accra, said: “His Excellency President Atta Mills’ invitation is because of his academic standing on global issues, especially during the period when he was a visiting scholar at the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Liu Institute for Global Issues.”

It said, President Mills would also be in New York to meet with the highly influential Business Council For International Understanding.

The President, who was seen off by some Members of Parliament, service personnel and officials from the presidency, is expected back in Accra on Saturday, April 28, 2012.**