Kufuor Heads Int'l Peace Group
FORMER PRESIDENT Kufuor has assumed chairmanship of the Governing Council of Interpeace, an international non-governmental organization, based in Geneva, Switzerland, that operates in conflict societies, and aims at building peace around the world.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Frank Agyekum, Press Secretary to the former President.
President Kufuor's assumption of office follows a meeting in New York with members of the Governing Council, at which he was formally introduced by President Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland and 2008 Noble Prize Winner for Peace, who is stepping down as Chairman of the Council.
According to a statement released from the Office of the Director-General of Interpeace, which is supported by the United Nations, Scott Weber, President Ahtisaari said: “I have observed Kufuor's leadership in Ghana and his commitment to peace in ECOWAS and the Africa Union, and have no doubt of his ability to continue with the objectives of this organization”.
He also said that it was in order, at this stage of Interpeace's development, to experience leadership from the southern perspective.
Former President Kufuor, who will meet with the full Council membership in Geneva in December 2009, said he was humbled by President Ahtisaari's recognition of his modest work and hoped that with his support and that of the Council, he would be able to take Interpeace to another level.
The Council Members include Paddy Ashdown, Member of the British House of Lords, Thomas Greminger, Swiss Government Representative, Joano Honwana, Director, Africa Division of the United Nations Political Affairs Department, a representative of the UN Secretary-General and others.
From New York, former President Kufuor delivered a key note address in The Hague, where the Dutch Development Corporation celebrated 60 years of working in Africa, and also gave a major lecture on 'Ghana's Democratic Journey' at the University of Leiden, one of The Netherlands leading universities whose first Africa research scholar was the late Prime Minister of Ghana, Prof. K.A. Busia.
He then joined his colleagues Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Sam Njuma of Nambia, and Alpha Konare of Mali in Tokyo to participate in the UNESCO and United Nations University conference on Africa and Globalization - Learning from the Past, Preparing for the Future.
The conference, which was also the last major assignment for the out-going Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, afforded the former African leaders the opportunity to thank him for his contributions towards Africa's progress.
Former President Obasanjo, who did this on behalf of Africa, was full of praises for the Japanese diplomat who started his career in Ghana in the 1960s.
The former Prime Minister of Japan, Junichiro Kuozumi, also paid a courtesy call on Kufuor at his hotel and said though Kufuor, like him, was out of power, Ghana-Japan relations should flourish nonetheless.
Prime Minister Kuozumi promised to work with Mr. Kufuor through his own foundation and the one to be established by Kufuor to ensure that development challenges are discussed and worked on.
President Kufuor said he was overwhelmed by the visit and looks forward to working for the good of the public, and strengthening their personal friendship.