President John Dramani Mahama will travel to Jamaica this August for a 4-day official trip focused on deepening ties between Ghana and the Caribbean.
A statement released on Thursday, July 30 said the President will be in Kingston from August 2 to August 5 for several high-level meetings designed to expand Ghana’s relations with Jamaica and the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM). A major part of the agenda is President Mahama’s address at a top-level Reparations Forum at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.
He will join Sir Hilary Beckles, Chair of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, to push forward the demand for justice and compensation for the transatlantic slave trade and its lasting effects. The President will also sit down with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness for bilateral talks. Their discussions will cover trade, investment, cultural exchange and stronger South-South cooperation. Both nations will look at ways to grow business ties and boost trade between West Africa and the Caribbean.
President Mahama is also billed to speak to a joint session of Jamaica’s Parliament at George William Gordon House. He is expected to present Ghana’s plan for closer Africa-Caribbean collaboration and deeper links with the African diaspora. Other activities on the schedule include a Trade and Investment Forum and a visit to the Kingston Freeport.
The goal is to attract investors and brand Ghana as the main entry point for CARICOM into Africa.To honour the shared history between both countries, President Mahama will place a wreath at the tomb of Jamaican National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey at National Heroes Park. He will also tour the Ghanaian Village Houses at Seville Heritage Park in St. Ann, which showcases the common ancestral roots of both peoples.The President will additionally meet Opposition Leader Mark Golding, and take part in the “Mello-Go-Roun” cultural event at the National Arena as Jamaica marks 64 years of independence. A State Dinner will be hosted in his honor by Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen.“This trip will open a new chapter in Ghana-Jamaica relations, position Ghana as CARICOM’s bridge to Africa, and demonstrate a united push for reparations, economic growth, and South-South partnership globally,” the statement noted.
