Kufuor to address people's assembly

Cape Coast, Feb 7 (GHP) -- President John Agyekum Kufuor will address the National People's Assembly here today. The Assembly is under the theme: "Positive Change Chapter Two - Accelerating Development, Deepening Good Governance".

The Assembly offers the people the opportunity to ask the President questions about his stewardship.

Ministers of State, other dignitaries, representatives of political parties and Members of the Diplomatic Corps are expected to attend the Assembly.

This year's event is being held outside Accra in accordance with the desire of the President to afford the people in the regions the chance to engage in frank discourse with him. President Kufuor would open a photo exhibition on development projects in the country mounted by the Information Services Department at the foyer of the Centre for National Culture, Cape Coast, where the Assembly would take place.

The Regional People's Assemblies would follow throughout the regions from February 11 to February 26 to be addressed by Ministers of State and other top ranking government officials. President Kufuor instituted the People's Assembly on assumption of office in 2001 to give opportunity to the general public to dialogue with him on State matters.

IMF officials join JAK at People?s Assembly

The 7-member delegation from the International Monetary Fund IMF will join President Kufour in Cape Coast to witness the People?s Assembly.

The delegation of the IMF board lead by Tom Scholar is in the country to acquaint itself with developments in the country and also interact with various groups including civil society and the media.

The visit is in line with the new trend of development agencies touching base with countries they support to find out for themselves the effects of their policies.

This is a mark shift from the days when programmes were handed down to beneficiary countries from Washington.

The group, which met with President Kufuor, also had a short interaction with the media during which they spoke on the programmes of the Fund.

The visiting officials will later today hold a press conference where they will touch on details of the fund? s programmes for Ghana.