Ghana and Angola, at the beginning of a two-day state visit of Angola President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos to Accra, have renewed their commitment to strengthen and enhance their bilateral ties for
mutual benefits.
Host President, John Evans Atta Mills, heartily welcomed his guest and said in an introductory statement: "On behalf of the Government and the people of Ghana, I warmly welcome you, your wife, and your delegation to our country.
"We consider it an honour and privilege to have you visiting us because we attach great importance to our relations with your country."
The Angola President expressed similar sentiments and recalled the support of Ghana to Angola's liberation struggle and afterwards, reiterating the need for the two nations for enhanced economic, political and social ties.
The visit of President Dos Santos is his first state visit to Ghana in close to three decades of his administration of a country of about 20 million people, which is also rich in minerals, oil, forest and water resources.
Accompanied by his wife Anna Paula, three Ministers of State, two secretaries of state, the Angola President is optimistic of strengthened
bilateral ties between Accra and Luanda, with the two countries exploring areas of further co-operation and collaboration to see how they could take advantage of their resources to improve the living standards of their peoples.
President Mills congratulated the Angola President on the successful handling of the Angola 2010 CAF football tournament, extolling his excellence in that activity.
President Dos Santos paid tribute to Ghana for her role in the African liberation struggle, and said his visit was a moment of satisfaction
and honour, considering the long history and solidarity Angola had with Ghana.
He recalled the particular role Ghana played in the liberation struggle, saying it was to the benefit of the well-being of all the people of Angola.
"We are here to thank you for all the support for the liberation of Angola," President Dos Santos said.
He commended Ghana on her democratic credentials, and called on the two nations, as well as other sister nations to move towards a fully free Africa and create the necessary conditions for the prosperity and progress
of its people.
"We need to identify what needs to be done in economic, cultural and trade, and establish the legal instruments for our people in these areas," President Dos Santos said.
President Dos Santos observed Ghana's prowess in sports, especially football, and expressed his country's desire for the transfer of expertise in that area.
He congratulated Ghana on the Satellites win of the Angola 2010 Tournament, saying the win was for the whole of Africa.
During the visit, President Mills would his host his guest for a private lunch and hold bilateral talks. The two first ladies, Mrs Naadu
Mills and Mrs Anna Paula Dos Santos, would also hold meetings on the sidelines of the visit.
President Santos would also lay wreaths at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra in memory of Ghana's First President Dr Kwame Nkrumah,
while his wife would lay one on the tomb of Madam Fathia at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra.
The two leaders would issue a joint communiqu� at the end of the two-day visit on Tuesday.