Commission
10 May 2007
South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will, together with
her counterpart from Ghana, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nana Addo Dakwa
Akufo-Addo, co-chair the Inaugural Session of the Permanent Joint Commission
for Co-operation (JCC) at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on Friday, 11
May 2007.
Minister Dlamini Zuma will co-chair this inaugural session of the JCC within
the context of South Africa's commitment to strengthen bilateral political,
economic and trade relations with Ghana. The launch of the JCC takes place
against the background of the conclusion of the African Union Foreign Ministers
Retreat and Executive Council that discussed proposals for the political and
economic integration of the continent in Durban. In addition, the meeting
follows the bilateral meeting between Presidents Mbeki and Kufuor in Pretoria
on Tuesday, 8 May 2007.
Issues on the agenda of discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma and
Akufo-Addo are expected to include, among others:
* the status of bilateral political and economic relations between the two
countries
* issues of political and economic integration
* co-operation between South Africa and Ghana in the United Nations (UN)
Security Council
* additional areas of cooperation including immigration, mining and energy,
agriculture, tourism, justice, defence, arts and culture and science and
technology.
Minister Akufo-Addo is expected to depart from South Africa on Friday, 11
May 2007.
Bilateral economic relations
Ghana represents the major export market for South African goods in the
region after Nigeria and while total trade volumes are still relatively low in
global terms, it is expected that these figures will continue to grow. In
recent years trade between South Africa and Ghana has grown significantly. In
2003 South African exports to Ghana jumped to R1,61 billion, up R979 million
from the previous year (2002). In the same year South African imports from
Ghana stood at R52 million. South African exports in 2006 amounted to just more
than R1 billion. By 2006 South Africa was Ghana's 14th largest foreign direct
investor. There are 58 South African multinational and small scale companies
registered in Ghana from 1994 until April 2007.
A South African company, Anglo-Gold, made headlines in April 2004 when it
signed a merger deal with Ghanaian Ashanti Goldfields valued at $1,4 billion.
This meant that South African investment in the Ghanaian mining sector
accounted for more than 60% of the total Foreign Direct Investment into the
sector. Some of the other main South African companies investing in Ghana
include MTN, Standard Bank, Gold Fields, SABMiller, Woolworths, Engen, Hytec
Engineering, Multichoice, Alliance Media, Steeldale, Stanbic, Shoprite
Checkers, Sherwood, Steers and South Africa Airways (SAA) which operates four
weekly flights between Johannesburg and Accra.
South African Breweries has acquired the majority shareholding in Accra
Breweries Limited (ABL), which is listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange. The
Profurn Group (operating as Barnetts) has opened a large network of retail
stores in Ghana. The recent acquisition by MTN of Avria has made MTN the
biggest mobile phone operator in Ghana. It is expected that this latest
development will serve as a further catalyst for South African investment in
Ghana.
South African exports to Ghana: (Rand '000)
2003: R1 161 799
2004: R1 243 374
2005: R1 625 748
2006: R1 736 876
South African Imports from Ghana:
2003: R52 499
2004: R64 342
2005: R74 902
2006: R81 731
Media Programme for official visit to South Africa by Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Co-operation and African Integration of Ghana, Akufo-Addo
Date: Friday, 11 May 2007
Venue: Presidential Guesthouse, Bryntirion Estate, Church Street (Gate 9),
Pretoria
10h30: Arrival of media ahead of photo opportunity on commencement of
discussions between Minister Dlamini Zuma and counterpart from Ghana Minister
Akufo-Addo
11h00: Minister Dlamini Zuma to commence discussions with Minister Akufo-Addo,
opening remarks by Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Akufo-Addo
11h30: Arrival of media ahead of joint press conference by Ministers Dlamini
Zuma and Akufo-Addo
12h05: Minister Pallo Jordan and Minister Akufo-Addo sign the Agreement on
Co-operation in the Fields of Arts and Culture
Photo opportunity
12h10: Joint press conference
(Please present press cards)
Please RSVP to Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
For further information, contact:
Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
10 May 2007
