Kufuor holds talks with Annan in Rome

President John Agyekum Kufuor has held private talks with the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan in Rome. Both leaders were in Rome to attend this year's World Food Summit organized by the FAO, which opened on Monday.

A government official briefing newsmen after the talks said President Kufuor updated Mr Annan on events in Ghana. The official said these included the initiatives undertaken by the government, a summary of the economic activities and progress made in the macro-economic sector and assessment of achievements made.

The officials said President Kufuor thanked Mr Annan for the continued support he had been offering to Ghana in diverse. He said President Kufuor officially invited Mr Annan to pay an official visit to Ghana, which Mr Annan readily agreed to honour sometime in August this year.

The official said Mr Annan thanked President Kufuor for the briefing and encouraged President Kufuor to continue on the path of progress made so far, particularly in the areas of good governance, maintenance of rule of law and the strengthening of democratic institutions.

He said Mr Annan pledged his continued support to Ghana and said' "if there were any areas UN assistance would be needed in Ghana, his office would be willing to consider any proposal submitted by the government to the UN. The official said Mr Annan also extended an official invitation to President Kufuor to attend next UN General Assembly in New York in September.