Kufuor ready for peer review of Ghana

Accra, Jan 19, GNA - President John Agyekum will leave Accra on Friday for Khartoum, Sudan, to attend an African Union (AU) Summit at which Ghana and Rwanda would be peer reviewed on Sunday, January 22. Mr. Kwabena Agyepong, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman, told a press briefing at the Castle, Osu, that President Kufuor was in high-spirits and adequately prepared for the exercise.

"It is the belief of the President that, democracy is the way forward for Africa. The peer review would provide the platform to showcase the positive aspects of Africa's democracy."

President Kufuor, he said, would use the forum to respond to issues raised by eminent persons on the review panel.

Mr Agyapong said there was now a new generation of African Leaders, who were more open and transparent and ready to change the image of the continent by allowing their countries to be thoroughly dissected, which was a deviation from the past.

Education and Culture are the other spotlights of the Summit. It would also receive reports from the Peace and Security Council with regard to the situation in Sudan, Cote d'Ivoire and Congo.

Mr Agyepong expressed the appreciation of President Kufuor for the warm reception extended to the American First Lady, Laura Bush during her three-day visit to the country.

Touching on the inauguration of Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf who is the first African woman to have been democratically elected to the presidency, he said, President Kufuor saw it as a deep fulfilment of years of human efforts.

President Kufuor found it refreshing, the declaration by Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf that she would promote an all-inclusive government. It marked a new beginning for Liberia and a fresh attempt at rebuilding the country after the 14 years civil war.