President Kufuor returns from AU Summit

President John Agyekum Kufuor returned home this afternoon from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he was elected the AU Chairman at the Eight Ordinary Summit of African Leaders.

Nana Akufo Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrew Awuni, Presidential Spokesperson and other senior government officials accompanied him.On arrival at the Kotoka International Airport, President Kufuor was welcomed by hundreds of people who waved miniature flags of Ghana amidst drumming and traditional dancing.

During a press briefing Nana Akufo Addo said the decision to elect President Kufuor as the AU Chairman was unanimous and based on four main reasons.He said President Kufuor's exceptional performance as ECOWAS Chairman coupled with his rule in Ghana, which was characterized by such governance qualities as respect for the rule of law, democracy, accountability among others formed key reasons for his election.

The Foreign Minister said Ghana under Kufuor's governance had also contributed in many ways towards peace on the continent, adding that it was also generally felt that it was appropriate to honour Ghana on the occasion of her 50th anniversary.He said the occasion was quite reflective of the fact that Ghana was politically charting the right path.At a meeting with a delegation of Ga chiefs, President Kufuor expressed joy at the welcome he received on arrival.

He described his election as an acknowledgement of Ghana's role in the fight for independence in Africa and the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).He said it was also an honour to the entire nation and a reflection of the political progress that Ghana had made so far. President Kufuor's election marked the first of such continental role for a Ghanaian leader since President Kwame Nkrumah was elected Chairman of the OAU in 1965.

At the airport to meet the President was the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State, members of the diplomatic corps, a delegation of Ga chiefs, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. J B Danquah and the Inspector General of Police Mr Patrick Acheampong.
Source:GNA

Prof Mills congratulates President Kufuor

Professor John Evans John Atta Mills, Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Election 2008 on Monday congratulated President John Agyekum Kufuor on his election as African Union (AU) Chairman at the Eighth Ordinary Session of the continental body currently underway in Addis Ababa.

President Kufuor was elected by a unanimous decision of the 53-member body to succeed Congolese President Dennis Sassou Nguesso among half-a-dozen contenders including Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and host country Ethiopia.Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, Prof Mills expressed the hope that President Kufuor would work towards the realisation of the objectives of the AU Charter

."I have no doubts President Kufuor is well aware of the challenges that come with this responsible and trusted position and I hope he will do his best in meeting the hopes and aspirations of our people and to advance the course of the Continent," he said. Prof Mills wished President Kufuor well and expressed the hope that he would execute the onerous task with the support of all.

Mills reacts to Kufuor statements

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Administration left a lasting legacy for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to build on, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, NDC Presidential candidate for Election 2008 said on Monday.Prof. Mills was reacting to statements attributed to President John Agyekum Kufuor at the People's Assembly held recently at Sunyani.

He said the peaceful transfer of power from NDC to NPP was something that should be extolled and for which President Kufuor should be grateful.Prof Mills said the mere fact that the NPP Government found money to pay Public and Civil Servants at the end of the month in which it assumed power belied the often made assertion that the NPP Government inherited empty coffers.Prof Mills cited extracts from the NPP Government's 2001 Budget Statement in which the loans that the NDC Government contracted in 2000 were made available to the NPP Government to use saying, the NPP's 2004 Campaign Document: "So Far, so Very Good" showed the projects that the NPP Government executed with the NDC contracted loans.

He said the NDC made huge investments in road construction; in the extension of electricity to all district capitals; in upgrading and establishment of polytechnics in all the 10 regions and two new public universities; in the construction of modern hospitals at Cape Coast, Ho and Sunyani as well as the construction of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) estates all over the country.

Former Vice President Mills cited the establishment of District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF); Ghana Education Trust Fund and the Energy Fund among other funds, as concrete evidence of the huge legacy NDC left for the NPP Administration.

He called on President Kufuor to find a way of investigating and reprimanding his appointees, who were perceived to be corrupt, and to stop saying that people should rather provide him with evidence of corruption against them.
Source:GNA

Ga Mantse Funeral---Photo Account