General News of Thursday, 6 January 2005

Source: GNA

Baroness Amos to attend inauguration

Accra, Jan. 6, GNA - Baroness Amos, Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Privy Council, would lead the British delegation to the inauguration of President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday, the British High Commission in Accra announced on Thursday.

The statement said Baroness Amos would also attend the inauguration of the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

She visited Ghana for the first time in 2001 to attend the inauguration of President Kufuor.

Since then Baroness Amos has visited Ghana on two separate occasions as Minister for Africa in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and then as the Prime Minister's Personal Representative on Africa for the G8 to discuss New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Baroness Amos was created a life peer in August 1997.

She was a Government Whip in the House of Lords from 1998 to 2001 and also a Spokesperson on Social Security, International Development and Women's Issues.

Baroness Amos was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in June 2001 with responsibility for Africa, the Commonwealth, the Caribbean, Overseas Territories, Consular Issues and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Personnel before becoming Secretary of State for International Development in May 2003.

She was appointed Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Privy Council on October 6, 2003.