Former President of Ghana John Kufuor Caves In To Pressure Over Controversial Equatorial Guinea Summit

caption: John Kufuor and Hope Sullivan-Masters at her home in the DC area-Photo credit: African Sun Times

George Ayittey, influential Ghanaian economist and professor, is reporting that Former President of Ghana John Kufuor is still wavering over whether to attend the controversial Leon H. Sullivan Foundation 'Africa Rising' Summit to be held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on August 20th-24th.

International groups have condemned the D.C. based non-profit Leon H. Sullivan Foundation for collaborating with the abusive and dictatorial regime of President Teodoro Obiang in whitewashing the conditions in the oil rich country. President Obiang is Africa's longest current serving president, having taken power in Equatorial Guinea in 1979 after a coup. Obiang has a personal wealth of more than 600 million dollars while the citizens of Equatorial Guinea live in squalor. Hope Sullivan Masters, the CEO of the Sullivan Foundation, has been lashing out at critics in the media and in the human rights world in her desperate attempts to defend the Sullivation Foundation's decision to partner with Obiang. She has denied that there are human rights abuses in Equatorial Guinea, and says instead that there are substantial reforms in the country.

According to Ayittey, John Kufuor is under a lot of pressure from both sides over his decision to attend the summitt. Ayittey tweeted today: "He [Kufuor] is under a lot of pressure – principally from his buddy, Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria, who is going." Obasanjo has been a longtime collaborator with the Sullivan Foundation, as Nigeria has been a previous host to the Africa Rising Summit.

Ayittey stated that Kufuor is aware of all the controversies surrounding the Summit and the "shortcomings" of the Obiang regime. He stated that Kufuor says if he attends, he will use the opportunity to try "to educate Obiang about spreading freedom and creating equal opportunity for all the citizens of Equatorial Guinea".

 Ayittey describes this latest development as a "setback", as he previously reported that he managed to convince Kufuor to withdraw. He has been an active critic of the activities of the Sullivan Foundation.

Sahara Reporters reached out Tuesday to Kufuor's spokesman Frank Agyekum. Agyekum promised an official statement on Kufuor's decision on attending the summit, which has still not yet been released.