General News of Sunday, 18 February 2007

Source: GNA

President Kufuor returns from France

Accra, Feb. 18, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor returned to Accra this evening from Cannes, France, where he attended the 24th Summit of Heads of State of Africa and France.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrew Awuni, Presidential Spokesperson and other government officials accompanied him.

Nana Akufo Addo told journalists on arrival that the Summit on the theme: "Africa and the Global Balance," mainly afforded African countries the opportunity to discuss problems facing the continent and to also review their relationship with France.

He said the Darfur crisis stood out at the Summit, adding that a meeting chaired by President Kufuor in his capacity as AU Chairman between the leaders of Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic agreed to find a solution to the Darfur crisis and also come out with initiatives to prevent conflict in that region.

He said the three states also agreed on the need for the AU and the UN to find a solution to the Darfur crisis.

Delegates attended the Summit from 46 African countries. Their heads of state led thirty of the delegations.

At the airport to meet President Kufuor were the Vice-President Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State, the Inspector General of Police, Patrick Acheampong and the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. General J.B. Danquah.