Accra, Aug. 22, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday sent a message of condolence to the Vice President and people of Zambia on the death of President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa in a Paris hospital earlier this week.

A press release signed by Mr Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President and Presidential Spokesman said a letter addressed to the Zambian Vice President, President Kufuor said: "As I join Africa and world leaders in conveying deep condolences to the family and people of Zambia at this sad period, I pay tribute to his truly exceptional qualities of leadership which he displayed during his Presidency. "Furthermore, his total commitment to the ideals of democracy in Africa and his vision for the continent placed him in the category of an outstanding African leader of our time."

He added that African leaders would forever miss his consummate sense of judgment and dedication to the economic, social and political progress of his nation and the continent.

President Mwanawasa was in Ghana in 2005 on a State visit and later joined other Presidents from the continent to celebrate Ghana's 50th Independence anniversary. He also participated in the Accra AU Summit. President Kufuor's last encounter with his colleague was at the Sham El Sheikh AU Summit in July this year. 21 Aug. 08