The President of the Republic of Ghana, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, accompanied by his wife, Mrs Nana Agyeman Rawlings, will pay a State Visit to the Republic of South Africa from Wednesday 8 July to Sunday 12 July 1998. The President will be accompanied by the Ghanaian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Finance and a large business delegation composed of the CEOs of major Ghanaian companies.
It is expected that President Rawlings will discuss issues of mutual concern for both the African Continent and internationally, such as conflict prevention, and the strengthening of political and economic ties in bilateral relations. It is also likely that South Africa's hosting of the Non Aligned Summit next month will be raised. An Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investments will be signed during the visit by Minister Nzo for South Africa and the Ghanaian Foreign Minister, Mr Victor Gbeho. The visit will be the first state visit by President Rawlings to South Africa and he is scheduled to hold talks with Deputy President Mbeki as well as other members of government. It is expected that the vision of the African Renaissance will feature with a focus on the progress of regional co-operation both in Southern Africa and West Africa as well as peacekeeping initiatives on the continent.
A significant part of the President's programme will focus on areas of economic interest. The President will be received by the Chamber of Mines and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. President Rawlings will also address an investment seminar on Ghana to be hosted by the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry in conjunction with the South African Chamber of Business on Friday 10 July 1998.
South Africa exports goods worth R 392 642 119 (1997) to Ghana and imports goods worth R 16 623 627 (1997) from Ghana. Several South African mining houses are involved in mining ventures in Ghana. Tentative interest is also shown by major companies outside the mining sphere. South African Breweries has acquired a majority shareholding in Accra Breweries Limited (ABL), which is listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange.
Following its inaugural flight on 1 April 1996, South African Airways (SAA) now flies to Accra twice a week.
Other prominent sites that the President will visit are the Hector Pietersen memorial in Soweto and Robben Island in Cape Town.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 6 JULY 1998