Vice-President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur on Wednesday left Accra for Cotonou, Benin, to attend the West Africa Regional Consultations of the Eminent Persons Group of the African-Carribean and Pacific (ACP) Group.

The three-day conference, which runs from January 15 to January 17, would deal with the poverty and deprivation of member countries in the light of emerging global economic dynamics and consideration.

The Vice President was accompanied by high ranking government officials including the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, a former Minister of Health, Mr Alban Sumani Bagbin and Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, the General Secretary of the ACP.

Also attending the meeting is the United Nations Special Representative for Darfur, Dr Muhammed Ibn Chambas.

The terms of reference of the Eminent Persons Group of the (ACP) among others is to critically assess the outcomes of the Ambassadorial Working Group on the future perspective of the ACP Group.

In addition, the Group is to take stock of the ACP's 38 years of existence based on identified achievements and shortcomings. Furthermore, it would also assess current ACP co-operation as well as proposed improvements to or strategies among others the Vision of the ACP up and beyond 2020.