Accra, Aug. 24, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday called on developed countries within the Afro-Asian Rural Development Organisation (AARDO) to assist other developing member countries to be accorded dignified place of honour in the comity of nations. He said: "AARDO should play a leading role to make each member country aware of its potentials and handicaps in order that with hands of friendship and cooperation lift each other up in the comity of nations."

President Kufuor made the call when delegates attending the Four-Day 52nd Session of the Executive Committee Meeting of AARDO in Accra paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu.

He described AARDO as a formidable organisation that represented most of the populous areas in the world on the Continents of Africa and Asia and geared towards the development of the rural areas and said; "Ghana is proud to be a member of such an organisation".

Ms Wafaa El Hadidy, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt and President of AARDO, said it was an inspiration and an impetus to the solidarity and cooperation among members to meet President Kufuor.

She commended President Kufuor for his sterling leadership qualities especially for the peace and stability in Ghana and the West African Sub-Region.

The Organisation, which has 28 member countries, was formed in 1962 as an intergovernmental body to promote economic and social changes, mainly through human development and agricultural activities, to make the lives of rural dwellers better.

In Ghana, AARDO is assisting the Bolgatanga Basket Weavers, Bonwire and Dumakwai Kente Weavers and the Aburi Wood Carvers and Batik Cooperative Society with 46,000 dollars to build their entrepreneurial and managerial skills.

Similar assistance was extended to the Akim Manso Women's Oil Processing Project in the Eastern Region at the cost of 10,648 dollars and Saltpond and Elmina Women's Fish Smoking Projects in the Central Region, which costs 19,115 dollars.

Ten thousand dollars was also spent to construct a day care centre at Twifo Hemang in the Central Region.

Thirteen of AARDO's member countries are from Africa while 14 are from Asia.

The Institute for Rural Development of Kenya is an associate member of AARDO, which is headquartered in New Delhi, India.