Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos has arrived in Ghana to begin a two-day state visit and was received at the Jubilee Lounge by his Ghanaian counterpart, John Evans Atta-Mills.
The two presidents later in the day met up at the Jubilee House where President Mills officially welcomed his colleague from Angola and added that it was a honour and privilege to receive president Dos Santos and his team in Ghana.
President Mills said “we have a lot in common hence the necessity of our meeting to help fashion out policies to the benefit of our people.”
“I would also like to congratulate the President for the successful hosting of the Nations Cup (in January),” he added.
Ghana’s President went further to thank President Dos Santos and his wife, for leading a very powerful delegation to Ghana and hoped that discussions between the two parties will be fruitful and also to take advantage of the natural resources of the two nations to the benefit of the people.
In his response, President Dos Santos thanked President Mills for the warm reception accorded him and his team and said he was proud to be in Ghana because of the country’s demonstration of solidarity.
“Ghana was one of the pioneers of the early struggle for African liberation of which Angola benefitted,” he said.
“I would like to pay a special tribute to Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President for championing the course for African liberation which we must continue to achieve a fully fee and stable Afria.”
President Dos Santos was also quick to recognize achievements made by Ghana especially in the sporting and democratic sector.
“You have a fantastic football team (Black Stars) which is not representing only Ghana but Africa at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and have so far acquainted themselves very well.
“We hope to tap into these achievements and experience of Ghana and Angola to bring prosperity to our people,” he concluded.
Both teams later on held a close-door meeting where issues of trade and investments as well as human resource are expected to be discussed.
President Mills later on hosted a luncheon in honour of the Angolan headof state and will later visit the Kwame Nrumah Mausoleum where he will lay a wreath in honour of Ghana’s first president as well as the Nation’s first Lady, Fathia Nkrumah.
The Angolan President will depart on Wednesday after both parties issue a joint communiqué. |
