President John Agyekum Kufuor left Accra on Sunday night to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from March 2 to March 5 in Coolum on the Queens Land Sunshine Coast in Australia.
The Foreign Minister, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister at the Office of the President, Elizabeth Akua Ohene and Secretary to the President, Mr Daniel K. Osei accompanied President Kufuor.
The Speaker of Parliament Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, Mr Jake Okanta Obetsebi-Lamptey, Chief of Defence Staff
(CDS), Lieutenant-General Seth Obeng, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ernest
Owusu Poku, other Ministers of State and the British High Commissioner, Dr Rodney Pullen were at the airport to see President Kufuor off.
The meeting, under the theme: "The Commonwealth in the 21'st Century: Continuity and Renewal" would focus on terrorism, good governance and the global economic downturn.
The situation in Zimbabwe would also be discussed, Mr Kwbbena Agyapong, Deputy Government Spokesman, told newsmen at the airport, noting that of late some members of the association had expressed a lot of misgivings about the situation in that country.
The ban imposed on Pakistan was not likely to be lifted, he said, adding that President Kufuor would make a two-day stopover in Singapore, which is at the invitation of that country's Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong, to discuss bilateral issues. President Kufuor would showcase Ghana with a view to attracting investors into the country, he said.
The Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) held every two years, discusses world and Commonwealth issues, decides on collective policy initiatives and provides a unique forum for consultation at the highest governmental level.
This year’s meeting, which was scheduled for October last year, was postponed following the 'September 11' attacks in the US. Issues to be discussed include the review of global developments with focus on terrorism, global economic developments and the promotion of Commonwealth fundamental political values.
Participants would also deliberate on major activities through, which the Commonwealth would pursue its agreed objectives on functional co-operation including education, health, gender equality and issues affecting the youth.
The meeting would consider the report of the High Level Review Group (HLG), established by the 'Durban CHOGM' in 1999 to examine all aspects of the operation of the 54-member association to make it more responsive to the needs of member countries.
The release said President John Agyekum Kufuor, prior to his participation in the conference, would pay a two-day visit to Singapore, where he would meet with Goh Chok Tong, Prime Minister of that country. Their discussions would focus on bilateral issues with a view to further developing productive and collaborative relations between Ghana and Singapore.
President Kufuor would also visit a community club, which exhibits Singapore's achievements in community development, a tourist facility at Sentosa spotting the ''Image of Singapore'' and the Ports of Singapore Corporation.
