President Kufuor Returns After Two-weeks Tour

President John Agyekum Kufuor returned home on Friday after a two-week official visit to France and Norway.

President Kufuor, who was accompanied by his wife, Theresa and Foreign Minister, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, was met on arrival by the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama.

Also at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to welcome him were Ministers of State, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt-Gen. Seth Obeng, the Inspector of Police (IGP) Ernet Opoku, the French Ambassador, Jean Michel-Derrit and the British High Commissioner Dr Pullen.

Speaking to newsmen later, Mr Owusu-Agyemang said President Kufuor held discussions with French President Jachques Chirac and the Prime Minister Mr Jospin on issues relating to African Economic development and the G8 decided to put Africa high on its agenda as from next year.

He said Ghana and France signed an agreement for a grant of 11.4 million euro for construction of roads and bridges in the northern part of Ghana.

The Foreign Minister said projects including the Accra-Cape Coast road, Accra-Kumasi and Accra Aflao highway project were discussed as well as the water sector, pharmaceutical and AIDS and cultural exchanges.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang said the Accra-Kumasi road project was of interest to most French private companies who were ready to construct it on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.

He said the delegation met with the Paris Club and discussed Ghana's debt cancellation and agreed that loans taken by Ghana from 1983 to 1999 would be cancelled when Ghana reached the decision point in a few months time.

The Foreign Minister said peace and security in Africa, especially in Congo and Burundi were also discussed and emphasised the need for African leaders to find a lasting solution to the problems.

The delegation then left for Norway at the invitation of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan to witness his investiture as a Nobel Prize winner.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang said President Kufuor met with the King and Prime Minister of Norway to commemorate the third anniversary of September 11, attack on America.

He said the Prime Minister pledged Norway's willingness to cancel Ghana's debt and assist her in infrastructural projects, deep-water oil exploitation, fisheries, bauxite and aquaculture.

Norway again said she would help Ghana in economic development projects and the Regional Maritime Academy in Tema, he added.