President Kufuor returns home from US

President John Agyekum Kufuor returned home on Sunday night after a state visit to the US on the invitation of President George W. Bush.      He also attended the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.      Mr Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President and Presidential Spokesman told journalists at the airport that following discussions between President Kufuor and President Bush, the US Government pledged to assist Ghana with technical expertise on her oil discovery.      He said under the pledge about 100 scholarships would be granted to Ghanaian students to study in the US to enrich their knowledge on oil exploration.      Mr Awuni said US Government also agreed to assist Ghana with 350 million dollars for rural electrification.      He said President Kufuor addressing the UN General Assembly, pledged government's commitment to ensure free and fair Election 2008 and invited international observers into the country during the election period.      Mr Awuni said the death Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning took its toll on President Kufuor and his entourage.      He described the late Baah-Wiredu as a hardworking and affable man adding" his death is indeed a sad event."      President Kufuor was met on arrival by Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State, Lieutenant-General J. B. Danquah, Chief of Defence Staff and Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, Inspector General of Police. GNA