Ghana
6 May 2007
Pretoria: Ghanaian President and Chairperson of the African Union John
Kufuor will on Monday, 7 May 2007 attend the opening session of the 7th
Ordinary Session of the Pan African Parliament at Gallagher Estate, Midrand.
President Kufuor is expected to address the Pan African Parliament.
President Kufuor will on Tuesday, 8 May 2007 meet with South African
President Thabo Mbeki during which the two Presidents will hold bilateral
discussions at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. President Mbeki's discussions
with President Kufuor come within the context of South Africa's commitment to
strengthen political, economic and trade relations with Ghana.
Discussions between Presidents Mbeki and Kufuor also take place against the
background of the forthcoming African Union Foreign Ministers retreat and
Executive Council scheduled for 8 to 10 May in Durban to discuss and prepare
for the African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government in Ghana in July
2007 on the political and economic integration of the Continent.
President Kufuor is expected to depart from South Africa on Wednesday, 9 May
2007.
Bilateral economic relations
Ghana represents the major export market for South African goods 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 US$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 African 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
SA imports from Ghana:
2003: R52 499
2004: R64 342
2005: R74 902
2006: R81 731
Media programme for meeting between Presidents Mbeki and Kufuor
Tuesday, 8 May 2007
09h45: Arrival of media ahead of photo opportunity on commencement of
discussions between Presidents Thabo Mbeki and John Kufuor
Venue: West Wing Union Buildings, Pretoria
(Please RSVP)
(Please present press cards)
(Parking on Government Avenue)
10h30: Presidents Mbeki and Kufuor to commence discussions
Photo opportunity
Contact: Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
Issued by :Department of Foreign Affairs
6 May 2007
