President Kufuor returns from Gabon

Accra, Jan. 11, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor returned to Accra on Tuesday from Libreville, Gabon, where he attended the 23rd Session of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU). Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Presidential Spokesperson and some Senior Officials at the Presidency accompanied him.

Speaking to Journalists on arrival, Nana Akufo-Addo described the meeting as encouraging because the AU had decided to be more assertive and proactive in dealing with conflicts on the Continent.

He said the Peace and Security Council Meeting discussed conflicts in Darfur, Sudan; Democratic Republic of Congo and Cote D'Ivoire and that the AU had planned to deploy Civilian Police to Darfur. Nana Akufo-Addo said the meeting endorsed President Thabo Mbeki's role as mediator in the Cote D'Ivoire's crisis especially on the timetable for a referendum and the reconstitution of the Unity Government.

He said that as a way to further step up the peace efforts on the Continent, Foreign Ministers of countries forming the Council would meet in Accra this month ahead of an AU Summit to be held in Abuja, Nigeria next month.

The President was met on arrival by Vice President Aliu Mahama, some Acting Ministers of State, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Seth Obeng, Nana Owusu Nsiah, Inspector General of Police and Ibrahim Omar, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.