Kufuor leaves for G-20 meeting in Seoul

Accra, July 12, GNA - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor left Accra Sunday night for Seoul, South Korea, to attend the preparatory meeting of the G-20 as the representative of the Club of Madrid, the largest grouping of former democratically elected heads of state. South Korea assumes presidency of the G-20 in September and will host the summit under the theme: "G-20's Role in the Post-Crisis World." Former President Kufuor is to help give an African perspective to the formulation of the G-20 Africa policy.

A statement signed by the former President's Spokesperson, Mr Frank Agyekum, said the meeting will be attended by Mr Jorge Quiroga, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Mr Hong Koo Lee, former Prime Minister of Korea, Mr Philip Dimitrov, former President of Bolivia and a select group of policy specialists, academics and authors. The meeting will to come up with suggestions as to how the G20 can enhance rather than undermine all inclusive multilateralism during Korea's presidency.

While in Seoul former President Kufuor will deliver a speech on "Korea-Africa Relations in a Changing World' at "The Distinguished Speaker Lecture" series at the Korea Foundation Forum. Distinguished personalities who had previously addressed the lecture series included former US President George W Bush, Mr John Howard, former Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mr Colin Powell, former US Secretary of State, Mr Koichiro Matsuura, the Director-General of UNESCO on Cultural Diversity and Mr John Hood, Vice Chancellor of Oxford University.

Former President Kufuor, who is the chair of the Governing Council of Interpeace, the international peace brokering organization based in Geneva, was last month appointed a director of the Oppenhimer Open Society in South Africa. He is expected back home on July 20.