Veep leaves for France on Saturday

Accra, May 28, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama leaves Accra on Saturday, May 29 for Paris, France to attend the 25th Franco-African Summit slated for the Riviera city of Nice.

The summit, organised by the French Government, is to strengthen the bilateral relations between France and participating African countries. A press release issued in Accra on Friday and signed by Mr John Abdulai Jinapor, Spokesperson for Vice President Mahama, said the summit to be co-chaired by French President Nicholas Sarkozy and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, would attract more than 40 African leaders. It said high on the agenda would be the role of Africa in the world governance, climate and development, and the strengthening of peace and security on the African continent.

The release said the summit would be the first for African leaders being hosted by President Sarkozy since assuming office in 2007 to succeed former President Jacques Chirac who held similar summits during his 12-year rule. Vice President Mahama is expected back home on Thursday, June 3. 28 May 10