President Akufo-Addo left Accra yesterday evening to attend the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He was accompanied by the first lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo; Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway; Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta; Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba; Deputy Minister for Energy, Mohammed Amin Adam and some officials from the presidency.
A statement from the Flagstaff House issued under the hand of Director of Communications, Eugene Arhin, indicated, “Whilst there, the president, as co-Chair of the Advocacy Group of Eminent Persons for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will participate in a series of SDGs events, and also deliver a speech on the theme, ‘Africa Beyond Aid,’ at the 5th Annual International Conference on Sustainable Development, at the Earth Institute, Columbia University.
The general debate would open on Tuesday, September 19, on the theme, ‘Focusing on people; striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet.’
President Akufo-Addo is also expected to hold bilateral talks with some colleague heads of state and chief executive officers (CEOs) of prominent global enterprises.
Later in the day, he would receive the ‘National Achievement Award’ on behalf of the government and people of Ghana at an event scheduled to be organised by the Africa-America Institute.
On the same Tuesday, President Akufo-Addo would deliver his maiden address to the UN General Assembly, and hold a meeting with UN Secretary General, António Guterres, on Friday, September 22.
He is expected back home on Sunday, September 24, 2017.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent