Ghana President Atta-Mills to Visit South Africa

Republic of Ghana President John Atta-Mills will pay a state visit to the Republic of South Africa. Atta-Mills represents the National Democratic Congress Party (NDC) in the West African state., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Ghanaian president Mills to visit S. Africa

Tuesday, 23 August 2011 02:00

PRETORIA - Ghanaian President John Atta Mills is expected in South Africa today on a two-day state visit aimed at enhancing the social, economic and social relations between the two countries.

Mills will be welcomed at the Cape Town International Airport by South African President Jacob Zuma before going to state house to discuss ways of strengthening the cordial relations which date back to the country's liberation struggle against apartheid.

In a statement Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesman, Clayson Monyela, said the two leaders would discuss and cement co-operation in key bilateral priority areas such as cooperation in trade, tourism, communication technology, energy, mining, agriculture and science and technology.

Monyela said three bilateral memoranda of understanding would be signed during the visit.

Ghana represents a major export market for South African goods in West Africa after Nigeria, and while total trade volumes were still relatively low in global terms, the figures were expected to grow, said Monyela.

The trade relations have seen South Africa's exports treble from less than R1 billion in 1998 to over R3 billion in 2009.

"Equally, imports from Ghana have shown constant increase during the same period," said Monyela.

"Products such as vehicles, machinery, mechanical appliances, electrical equipment, base metals, aircraft, vessels and associated products contribute to the increased exports to Ghana," said Monyela. South Africa has more than 80 multinational and small scale companies registered in Ghana.

Among other big South African companies that have invested in Ghana are MTN, Telkom, Standard Bank, Gold Fields, SABMiller, Woolworths, Engen, Hytec Engineering, Multichoice, Alliance Media, Steeldale, Stanbic, Shoprite Checkers, Sherwood, Steers and South African Airways which operates four weekly flights between Johannesburg and Accra.

The two leaders would use the occasion to exchange views on developments at regional level

- CAJ News.