US President, Mr George Walker Bush's visit saw a historic handshake between President Kufuor and former President J.J. Rawlings at the State Banquet on Thursday. The State Banquet held in honour of Mr Bush and his wife, Laura, on Wednesday evening witnessed an assembly of almost all the heavyweights in the country's politics interacting and sharing jokes. It was an occasion that brought former President Jerry John Rawlings and his successor, President J.A. Kufuor face to face at the Banquet Hall of the State House. The two shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, a rare situation since President Kufuor assumed office more than seven years ago. It all began when the Director of State Protocol, Ambassador Kobina Wudu, who was the MC for the programme, announced the names of people expected to proceed to the Banquet Hall lobby to welcome President Kufuor and his guests. They included former President Rawlings, Professor J.E.A. Mills, flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, Nana Akufo-Addo, and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, flag bearers of the New Patriotic Party and the Convention Peoples' Party respectively. Others were the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Woode, members of the Council of State, the leadership of Parliament and the various political parties as well as some chief executive officers of some corporate institutions. President Kufuor and his wife, Theresa took turns to shake hands with all those present, including former President Rawlings. When President Bush arrived, President Kufuor took him round and introduced those in the lobby to hime. When they got to the former president, the three spent some time chatting and exchanging pleasantries. Source: Daily Graphic/Ghanaian Times