Accra, Jan. 11, GNA - President John Atta Mills returned to Accra on Sunday from Abuja, Nigeria, where he attended an Extra-Ordinary Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government. He was accompanied by Mr Mahama Ayariga, Presidential Spokesman, and some government officials.
Briefing the media on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport Mr Ayariga said President Mills attended the summit mainly because of his commitment to attend regional and sub-regional meetings, adding that the summit provided him the first opportunity to show appreciation to sub-regional leaders for their support during the presidential election in Ghana.
Touching on some highlights of a communiqu=E9 issued at the end of the meeting, Mr Ayariga said the ECOWAS leaders congratulated the government and people of Ghana for successfully holding elections and welcomed President Mills to their fold. He said the leaders also showed concern for the coup in Guinea and suspended Guinea from all ECOWAS meetings till constitutional rule is restored. "It was also decided at the meeting that no economic sanctions will be laid against Guinea rather the country will be supported in its transitional process," Mr Ayariga said.
The meeting also decided that the current Prime Minister of Guinea and members of his government should not participate in the next Government of the country. He said President Mills expressed Ghana's commitment to pursue good neighbourliness and sub-regional integration and met Chairman of the ECOWAS Commission, President Musa Umar Yar'Adua of Nigeria as well as President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo and also interacted with Heads of State who attended the summit.
Mr Ayariga said at the summit there was commitment to work together on sub-regional cooperation especially in the area of power (electricity), trade and industry, good neighbourliness, integration and the fight against drug trafficking. He said there was also a request that a special ECOWAS meeting be held on combating drug trafficking. At the airport to meet President Mills was Vice President John Mahama, senior Government officials, senior military and police officers.
