Accra, Jan. 20, GNA - The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday congratulated President John Agyekum Kufuor on his election as Chairman of the African Union saying by the achievement, he 93has not only brought honour to himself and the NPP, but indeed to the entire nation".

A statement signed in Accra by Nana Ohene-Ntow, General Secretary of the NPP, said the Party received news of the election of President Kufuor at the ongoing AU Summit in Addis Ababa 93with a great sense of pride".

"Certainly, in taking such a momentous decision, the AU must have considered a number of criteria, among which we believe, are President Kufuor's exemplary leadership; his record on human rights and good governance; as well as his contribution towards the expansion of democratic practice in Africa."

President Kufuor is the second Ghanaian Leader to chair the African Union after Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the First President, who was chairman of the Organisation of African Union in 1965.

President Kufuor, whose election was unanimous, takes over from Congolese President Dennis Sassou Nguesso.

Alpha Oumar Konare, AU's Chief Executive, told reporters in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa: "By consensus vote President (John) Kufuor of Ghana has been elected to the presidency of the African Union."

Sudan had pushed to obtain the chairmanship during last year's summit, which it hosted, but African Leaders selected Republic of Congo's President in a compromise deal for him to chair for one year and then hand over to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. But the deal hinged on Sudan demonstrating progress in bringing peace to Darfur, a violence-wracked western Sudan Region. Instead of calming, Darfur's violence in recent months has spilled into neighbouring Chad and Central African Republic.