The President of Malta, Dr George William Vella, begins a three-day official visit to Ghana today.
President Vella, who arrives this evening, will be received at the Kotoka International Airport by the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and government officials.
Tomorrow, President Vella is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, after which a guard of honour shall be mounted for him at the forecourt of the Jubilee House.
The two leaders will later address a press conference at the Jubilee House.
Accompanied by his wife, Miriam, his delegation which includes public servants and representatives private sector are also billed to engage and network with Ghanaian stakeholders.
According to information available to myxyzonline, a state banquet will be held in his honour at the Jubilee House.
First Lady of Ghana, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, will lead her colleague from Malta to the Little Explorers Montessori, which has learners of 40 nationalities. They will also visit the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum where he will lay wreaths and embark on a guided tour.
The two first ladies are also scheduled to join their husbands at a brief ceremony the National Lottery Authority (NLA). The NLA was established by Maltese and had its first managing director being a Maltese.
On Saturday, President Vella and his wife will call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace.
While in Kumasi, they will visit the HopeExchange Hospital established by a Maltese non-governmental organisation as part of the Health Cooperation between Ghana and Malta.
The hospital, aimed to be a teaching hospital, was established with support from the Malta Government, the Vatican and donors from other parts of the world.
Before their departure on Sunday, President Vella, his wife and Maltese delegation will visit the 57 Chocolate Factory, a Ghanaian women-owned luxury chocolate brand.
Background
Malta, an Island country in Southern Europe, chose Ghana for the establishment of its first-ever mission, the High Commission in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
In 2014, Ghana became the first sub-saharan country to establish a resident mission in Valletta, the Malta capital.
In the same year, both countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a Joint Commission for Cooperation which enabled them to deepen bilateral cooperation in areas including migration, tourism, medicine, education, fisheries, sports, and candidature of diplomatic appointments.
Malta reciprocated the diplomatic ties by opening a resident mission in Accra in 2019, serving as its diplomatic mission in SSA.
Five years ago, the two signed an agreement on the waiver of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official/service passports.
Currently, Ghana is seeking the support of Malta and other Commonwealth member states for the candidature of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, as the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
