The President, Mr. John Agyekum Kufour, who arrived in Geneva yesterday for the on-going World Summit on the Information Society, conferred with United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, on the situation in Africa.
The President gave an overview of the current political situation on the continent, particularly in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They discussed the hiccups in the Bacusis Agreement, and the President suggested that the ECOWAS peacekeeping force in Cote d’Ivoire should be transformed into a UN force.
President Kufour thanked Mr. Annan on behalf of the ECOWAS, for his personal role in enlisting the support of the Indian Government, in establishing the Kofi Annan ICT Centre which was inaugurated in Accra last Tuesday.
He spoke about the Kofi Annan Peace Keeping Institute which will serve as a sub-regional institution, and said it will be officially inaugurated at the end of January 2004. He will perform the inauguration together with the German Chancellor.
The President stated that it would be an honour for Ghana if Mr. Annan attended the Inauguration in person.
Responding, Mr. Annan congratulated President Kufour for his personal role in resolving the conflict in Liberia, the political differences in Guinea Bissau and the current situation in Cote d’Ivoire.
He gave the assurance that he would consult the UN Security Council for the possibility of turning the ECOWAS force into a UN force.
On the ICT Centre, the Secretary-General said the UN, if requested, would consider providing assistance for the collective training of citizens of the West African sub-region at the centre.
The two men also reviewed the UN’s role in the fulfillment of the objectives of NEPAD and reviewed specific steps taken by the UN to support the initiative.
Mr. Annan said he was pleased with Ghana’s leadership role in attaining the objectives of ECOWAS.
At the time of going to press, the President was addressing a meeting of Ghanaian citizens in Geneva.
He is scheduled to address the summit this morning and address a press conference later in the day.
He is being accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nana Akuffo Addo, and Minister of Communications, Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah.
