On the first day of a state visit to Ghana, President George Vella and Mrs Miriam Vella were received by the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, at Jubilee House in Accra. Following the official welcoming ceremony, President Vella and President Akufo-Addo held official talks, wherein they reaffirmed the strong bilateral relations between Malta and Ghana.
“This State Visit comes at a very significant moment, seeing that this year marks the fiftieth anniversary since our two countries established diplomatic relations in 1974,” President Vella said in a Press Statement after the official talks. The President said that the opening of diplomatic missions in each other’s capitals is testament to the enduring nature of the bilateral relations between the two countries.
President Vella said, “It also complements Malta’s desire to enhance relations and partnership with individual African countries through our African Strategy”. He also highlighted the establishment of a Joint Commission to implement progress in areas of interest such as higher education, fisheries, agriculture, financial services, air services, and the hospitality sector.
Moving on to regional cooperation, President Vella said that Malta remains an ardent and active supporter of the positive and constructive relationship between Ghana and the European Union. The President also remarked that Ghana is an example of rule of law, of stability and democracy in the West Africa.
During the official talks, President Vella and President Dankwa Akufo-Addo discussed migration, an issue of mutual interest for both Malta and Ghana.
Discussions also focused on multilateral issues, with President Vella underlining Malta’s commitment to maximising the potential within the Commonwealth family of Nations, of which both Malta and Ghana are esteemed members. “The Commonwealth should not only remind us of our past, and of elements of the heritage which we share in common, but the Commonwealth has all the potential to be a powerful platform for future sharing, connection, and ongoing dialogue, also through its diversity,” emphasised President Vella.
President Vella congratulated Ghana on its successful election to the Human Rights Council (HRC) for the term 2024-2026. He also commended Ghana for its leadership in regional security matters and for the successful hosting of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial held last December.
The President and Mrs Vella visited the Kwame Nkrumah mausoleum in Accra, paying tribute to the first president of Ghana, a key figure in the country’s independence movement, and his wife.
Accompanied by the delegation, which includes Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research, and Innovation Keith Azzopardi Tanti, President Vella and Mrs Vella visited the Little Explorers Montessori school and the National Lottery Authority.