Kufuor
appointed head
of
international peace group
Accra, 0ct. 7, Ghanadot/GNA-
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has assumed
chairmanship of the Governing Council of Interpeace, an
international non-overnmental organisation, based in Geneva,
Switzerland, that operates in conflict societies and aims at
building peace around the world.
A statement issued in Accra by Mr Frank Agyekum, Press
Secretary of the Office of former President said Mr Kufuor’s
assumption of office follows a meeting in New York with
members of the Governing Council at which he was formally
introduced by President Martti Ahtisaari, former President
of Finland and 2008 Noble Prize Winner for Peace, who is
stepping down as Chairman of the Council.
According to a statement released from the Office of the
Director-General of Interpeace, which is supported by the
United Nations, Mr. Scott Weber,
President Ahtisaari said:
“I have observed Kufuor's leadership in Ghana
and
his commitment to peace in ECOWAS and the African Union and
have no doubt of his ability to
continue with the objectives of the organisation.”
He also said that it was in order at this stage of
Interpeace's development to
experience leadership from the Southern perspective.
Former President Kufuor who would meet with the full council
members in Geneva in December
2009, said he was humbled by President Ahtisaari's
recognition of his modest work and expressed the hope
that with his support and that of the council he would be
able to take Interpeace to another level.
The council members include Paddy Ashdown, member of the
British House of Lords, Thomas
Greminger, Swiss government representative, Joano Honwana,
Director, Africa Division of the United Nations Political
Affairs Department, a
representative of the UN Secretary-General and others.
After New York former President Kufuor delivered a key note
in the Hague where the Dutch
Development Corporation celebrated 60 years of working
in Africa and also gave a major lecture on “Ghana's
Democratic Journey” at the
University of Leiden, one of the Netherlands leading
universities whosefirst Africa research scholar was the late
Prime Minister of Ghana, Professor
Kofi Abrefa Busia.
He also joined his colleagues Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria,
Sam Nujoma of Nambia, Alpha Konare
of Mali in Tokyo to participate in the UNESCO and
United Nations University conference on “Africa and
Globalisation- Learning from the
Past, Preparing for the Future”.
The conference, which was also the last major assignment for
the out-going Director-General of
UNESCO, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura afforded the former
African leaders the opportunity to thank him for his
contributions towards Africa's
progress.
President Obasanjo who did this on behalf of Africa was full
of praises for the Japanese
diplomat who started his career in Ghana in the 1960s.
The former Prime Minister of Japan Junichiro Kuozumi also
paid a courtesy call on Kufuor at
his hotel and said though Kufuor like him was out of power,
Ghana-Japan relations should flourish.
The former Prime Minister Kuozumi promised to work with
Kufuor through his Foundation and
that to be established by Kufuor to ensure that development
challenges are discussed and worked on.
President Kufuor said he was overwhelmed by the visit and
look forward to strengthening
their personal friendship and working for the public good.
GNA
