Kufuor leaves for ECOWAS summit

President John Agyekum Kufuor left Accra on Friday for Yamoussoukro, Cote D'Ivoire to attend a two-day ECOWAS Summit to discuss the implementation of the New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) initiative. The President, who was accompanied by the Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Integration, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, was seen off at the Airport by the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State and the Dean of the Diplomatic Corp, Ibrahim Omar.

Briefing newsmen, Dr Nduom said the meeting would mainly discuss the implementation of the NEPAD within the Sub-region and also convince leaders to make a commitment to promote the NEPAD initiative before the G8 Summit scheduled for Canada by the end of June.

The Summit, which is being convened by President Laurent Gbagbo, would also discuss a common customs union, monetary union, free-border and other projects being undertaken by the ECOWAS and how they could be accelerated. Already in Yamoussoukro for the Summit, are Foreign Minister, Mr Hackman Owusu Agyeman and the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Major Courage Quashigah.