President Kufuor arrives from Kenya

Accra, Jan. 10, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor arrived this evening from Kenya after holding a peace building meeting with Kenyan Pesident Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Mr. Raila Odinga. Kenya, East Africa's economic powerhouse has been plunged into political turmoil as protests over Mr Kibaki's re-election snowballed into nasty ethnic clashes that had killed more than 300 and displaced tens of thousands of people.

To help salvage the situation, the Kenyan Leader sought the assistance of President Kufuor to mediate and to help them to find a common ground to begin the process of reconciliation.

Speaking to journalists on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra Mr. Andre Awuni, Presidential Spokesperson said a statement issued after President Kufuor held talks with the Kenyan feuding parties directed an immediate cessation of the violence as well as any act, which would be detrimental to peace.

He said the statement also urged the parties to resort to dialogue under the auspices of the African Union for lasting solution to the crisis. Mr. Awuni said the parties agreed to work together with a panel of eminent African personalities towards resolving their difference and all other outstanding issues, including constitutional and electoral reforms. He said President Kufuor appealed to all Kenyans as well as friends and partners of Kenya to collaborate and support the process of dialogue and reconciliation.

Mr Awuni, in response to questions from the journalists said it was important for the President in his capacity as Chairman of AU to maintain neutrality in his approach to the issue to earn the trust of the people.

Mr AKwasi Osei Adjei, Foreign Minister said the President as AU Chairman was obliged to attend to issues affecting African countries and thus it was not wrong for him to have left for Kenya to mediate while there was problem in Ghana's Northern region where efforts were put in place to deal with the conflict.

The President was met on arrival at the airport by Ministers of State and the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General J.B. Danquah, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Acheampong.