Speech by President Mahama at the State Luncheon on the Occasion of a State Visit To Botswana

On behalf of the government and people of Ghana, permit me to thank most sincerely, my brother, the President of Botswana for the invitation to pay a reciprocal visit to Gaborone following the visit you paid us in Accra in 2011. Let me also congratulate you, Mr. President, on your country’s successful elections in October last year and your swearing-in for another term in office. I must also commend you and the people of Botswana for the remarkable strides you have continued to make, which have among others positioned you favourably as one of the best performing economy on the continent.

The leap from a poor African country to a thriving middle-income country today is commendable and worthy of emulation.

Your Excellency,

Ghana is also a lower middle-income country, working towards attaining full-fledged middle-income country, and the similarity of many of our key indicators goes to emphasise our growing friendship and collaboration.

At a time that Botswana is implementing a policy of economic diversification, we in Ghana are implementing a policy of economic transformation aimed at diversifying the base of our economy, positioning Ghana as an export-driven economy and adding value to our natural resources and building an industrial capacity. Ghana and Botswana have an opportunity to collaborate, not only to expand trade between our countries and establish joint venture companies across territories, but also contribute to the establishment of strong democratic institutions in other African countries.

My brother, President Khama,

Ghana will continue to implement its policy of good neighbourliness and in line with that, develop strong relations with all countries on the African continent. 3 We will continue to rely on brotherly nations like Botswana to help share our experience of stable democracy, strong institutions, respect for human rights and the enormous benefits of changing governments only through the ballot box with other countries. Ghana and Botswana have shared values and these strengthen the bonds between us. The barriers to movement and trade among our countries, which we discussed this morning in your office, remain issues that require a continent-wide commitment to tackle. The effort to bridge the constraints to movement among our countries is been tackled at the level of the African Union, but the process needs to be fast tracked.

I have the privilege of chairing the African High level Committee and I must ensure you that strong efforts are been made to create a Continental Free Trade Area within the shortest possible time. At the bilateral level however, we should also be able to take a number of decisions that will help with the continental approach. We have just this afternoon signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultation and I believe that this is appropriate considering the shared values we have. We also believe we can enhance trade and business negotiations and movement between our countries; and in the medium term look forward to the free access to our two countries by our nationals without any restriction.

President Khama,

I want to thank you and the people of Botswana for the assistance you gave the three most affected Ebola countries in West Africa.

Mr. President, Your Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am looking forward to an exciting three days in Botswana.

Tomorrow, President Khama and I will be in the north of the country to inaugurate what is a very important project for the people of Botswana, the Dikgatlhong Dam. Thank you for the honour of reserving the responsibility to inaugurate that important project for me to undertake. I feel very honoured.

My delegation is also looking forward to visit the meat processing company and to your diamond facilities, as we believe there is a lot to learn from your management of these industries. Botswana can continue to count on the cooperation and support of Ghana in all fields, even as we work to finalise the Memoranda of Understanding on issues relating to trade, cooperation agreement, and legal, among others.

On behalf of my fellow compatriots living and working in Botswana, I thank the government and people for the warm hospitality you have extended to Ghanaians working here.

I thank you, and invite you all to raise your glasses in a toast to a longer, enhanced and mutually beneficial relations between Ghana and Botswana

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