President Kufuor in Abuja

President John Agyekum Kufuor is in Abuja where is one of the dignitaries attending the swearing-ceremony of Nigeria's President-elect, Alhaji Umar Yar'Adua.

President Kufuor flew in from Cairo, the Egyptian capital where he besides discussing with his counterpart, President Hosni Mubarak, visited Madam Fathia Nkrumah, wife of first President Kwame Nkrumah who is undergoing treatment in a local hospital.

President Kufuor was also in Brussels, Belgium where he held important discussions with the President of the European Union, Mr. Manuel Barosso and visited the Africa Union House located in that city.

Today's event in Abuja is particularly significant in the history of democratic governance in African especially in this most populous black nation.

This is the first time in the history of Nigeria that a civilian administration is handing over to another one.

Ghana and Nigeria have had excellent relations over the years both at governmental and individual levels.

The outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo, a retired General, has been supportive of Ghana by extending a facility to enable the country buy crude oil at a time when other producers had turned their back on us.

Nigeria again assisted us with a facility to join the West Africa Gas Pipeline venture which is ongoing.

President Kufuor is one of the most important foreign dignitaries at this august function, as he is the Africa Union Chairman. No wonder even before his swearing-in ceremony, soon-to-be sworn in as President Yar'Adua took a trip to Accra to confer with the AU Chairman.