.. after 16 days away
Accra, June 15, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor returned home on Thursday after visits to the United Kingdom, United States, Germany and Nigeria.

While in the UK, he addressed the International Cocoa Organisation in London. In Germany, he went to cheer on the Black Stars in their maiden World Cup match and attended the 30th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS in Abuja.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who accompanied President Kufuor to Abuja, told journalists at the Kotoka International Airport that the Abuja Summit concretised a resolution to transform the ECOWAS Secretariat into a Commission to be headed by a President.

He said Ghana's Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas was elected as the First President of the Commission to be assisted by a Vice President and seven Commissioners.

Nana Akufo-Addo said the transformation was to strengthen the integration process of the Sub-Region.

He said the Heads of State also looked at the restructuring of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) Court of Justice and the ECOWAS Parliament.

He said the structure would enable members of ECOWAS Parliament to play effective roles in Sub-Regional integration process.

Nana Akufo-Addo said the proliferation of arms in the Sub-Region was also considered and they called for a moratorium on the movement of arms and a formal treaty to create a register to record the movement, importation and exchange of weapons within the Sub-Region.

He said The ECOWAS Leaders also resolved to meet twice every year, adding that the Abuja Summit was the first after the resolution. The second summit has been scheduled for Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in December.