Kufuor returns home

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor arrived home on Tuesday night after four weeks travel abroad which took him to the United States, Europe and Asia during which he received an honorary doctorate degree and assumed chairmanship of the international peace group, Interpeace.

The Inje University in Seoul, South Korea awarded him an honorary doctorate degree (PhD) in Political Science for his exemplary leadership as President of Ghana for two terms and for his contribution to peace in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Kenya.

A statement signed by Mr Frank Agyekum, Press Secretary at the Office of former President, said Swiss-based Interpeace, which was supported by the United Nations and works towards peace and conflict resolution in areas of civil strife, made him Chairman of their Board of Governors. Former President Kufuor's chairmanship of Interpeace follows the stepping down of former Nobel Peace prize winner and former President of Finland, Marti Athesari, after nine years.

Former President Kufuor becomes the first African and the first person in the Southern hemisphere to head Interpeace.

The statement said during his visit to the US the former President formally launched the 700th anniversary of the founding of Exeter College at the University of Oxford of which he is an alumnus, and delivered lectures at the Medical College, Cornell University and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts. At The Hague, The Netherlands, former President Kufuor was the special guest speaker at the celebration of 60 years of Dutch development cooperation dubbed: "The Millennium Event - 60 years of Dutch development cooperation."

In Tokyo, Japan, former President Kufuor addressed an international conference on: "Africa and Globalization - Enabling a Better Future," at the United Nations University.

Former President Kufuor described his tour as gratifying and said it was ample testimony of the international community's appreciation of leaders who promoted the rule of law and promoted human rights as well as the welfare of their people.