Peace Corps Director, Mr. Gaddi H. Vasquez is in Ghana to launch this year's annual conference of Peace Corps Africa Regional Country Directors. He arrived on September 12.

The conference will take place in Accra at the La Palm Royal Hotel from September 15th to 19th.

The objective of the conference is to discuss lessons from their volunteer-assisted programs in Africa.

Director Vasquez will participate in the conference during his stay in Ghana. The Director is also scheduled to meet with His Excellency President J.A. Kufour of Ghana and U.S. Ambassador Mary Carlin Yates.

Peace Corps Country Directors and staff from 27 African countries and Washington, DC will review their programs in education, health, small enterprise development, environment, agriculture, information technology, HIV/AIDS, and gender and youth development.

The Country Directors will take lessons from their colleagues and counterparts to back to refine their respective country programs.

Ghana was the first country in the world to receive Peace Corps Volunteers in 1961,under first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Since 1961, more than 170,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health, HIV/AIDS education and awareness, information technology, business development, the environment, and agriculture Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a two-year commitment.