General News of Thursday, 23 February 2006

Source: GNA

US Congressional delegation visits Ghana

Accra, Feb. 23, GNA - The US House Democratic Leader, Nancy Pelosi led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Ghana between February 22 and February 23 during which it had discussions with President John Agyekum Kufuor, at the Castle, Osu.

A statement issued in Accra by the US Embassy said prior to the visit to Ghana, the Congressional delegation went to Darfur, Sudan, to assess the situation in that country.

From Ghana the delegation would proceed to Liberia before returning to the US.

The statement said Pelosi said in a statement after the visit to Darfur that it was to witness firsthand the situation in Darfur. "The genocide in Darfur challenges the conscience of the country and the world," it said.

"During our visit this past weekend, the Congressional delegation expressed our strong view to Vice President Ali Osman Taha that the Government of Sudan is not living up to its responsibility to assist in ending the suffering and restoring peace in Darfur.

"The bipartisan delegation expressed unanimous support for President Bush's suggestion for more international troops in Darfur. It was clear to us that the situation in Darfur will not be resolved by the current level of humanitarian relief and peace keeping assistance."