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NPP congratulates Kufuor on his
election as AU Chairman
Accra, Jan. 20, GNA – The New Patriotic Party (NPP) on
Tuesday congratulated President John Agyekum Kufuor on his
election as Chairman of the African Union saying by the
achievement, he “has not only brought honour to himself and
the NPP, but indeed to the entire nation”.
A statement signed in Accra by Nana Ohene-Ntow, General
Secretary of the NPP, said the Party received news of the
election of President Kufuor at the ongoing AU Summit in
Addis Ababa “with a great sense of pride”.
“Certainly, in taking such a momentous decision, the AU must
have considered a number of criteria, among which we
believe, are President Kufuor’s exemplary leadership; his
record on human rights and good governance; as well as his
contribution towards the expansion of democratic practice in
Africa.”
President Kufuor is the second Ghanaian Leader to chair the
African Union after Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the First
President, who was chairman of the Organisation of African
Union in 1965.
President Kufuor, whose election was unanimous, takes over
from Congolese President Dennis Sassou Nguesso.
Alpha Oumar Konare, AU's Chief Executive, told reporters in
the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa: "By consensus vote
President (John) Kufuor of Ghana has been elected to the
presidency of the African Union."
Sudan had pushed to obtain the chairmanship during last
year's summit, which it hosted, but African Leaders selected
Republic of Congo's President in a compromise deal for him
to chair for one year and then hand over to Sudanese
President Omar al-Bashir.
But the deal hinged on Sudan demonstrating progress in
bringing peace to Darfur, a violence-wracked western Sudan
Region. Instead of calming, Darfur's violence in recent
months has spilled into neighbouring Chad and Central
African Republic.
GNA
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