President J.A.Kufuor of Ghana has been described as a world leader by the French Foreign Minister, Mr. Dominic de Villepin. “Your President is not only seen as a President of Ghana or Africa, but as a world leader, because his views are highly respected by other world leaders”, he said.

Mr. de Villepin said this at a joint-press conference with his Ghanaian counterpart, Hon. Nana A. Akufo-Addo, in Accra after his two-day working visit to Ghana over the weekend.

Mr. de Villepin said the capacity of Ghana to take up the responsibility to move Africa on the path of democratisation and peace is commendable.

Responding to a question as to whether the French President, Jacques Chirac has the intention of visiting Ghana, at least once in his life, the Minister said, the quality leadership of President Kufuor, justifies the consolidation of relationship between the two countries at that high level. “And discussions are going on for that consideration”, he said.

President Kufuor, on the other hand had already visited France twice since he became President of Ghana in 2001. He first went to Paris in November 2001 as well as in January 2003 when he attended the conference of Heads of States of Africa on the Ivorian crisis.