President leaves for US today: To attend summit, sign second compact
President John Dramani Mahama leaves Accra today for Washington to attend the first United States (US)-Africa Leaders' Summit, which will, among other things, see the signing of the much-awaited second compact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
Advertisement
Ghana will receive a grant of about $500 million from the US government under the compact to be channelled into the power sector to improve reliability and service delivery and ensure cost-effective power supply.
Briefing the Presidential Press Corps at the Peduase Lodge yesterday, the Head of Communications at the Presidency, Mr Ben Dotsei Malor, said about $300 million of the amount would go into fortifying the operations of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
About $10 million would also be channelled into supporting small and medium companies in the energy sector, he said.
The President, who is travelling with his wife, Mrs Lordina Mahama, will be accompanied by some ministers of state.
The summit
President Barack Obama is hosting African leaders for the three-day summit from August 4-6 on the theme, "Investing in the Next Generation".
The summit will be the largest event any US President has held with African Heads of State and Government.
Mr Obama wants to use the meeting to, among other things, build on his 2013 trip to Africa.
The summit will further push the Obama administration's focus on trade and investment in Africa and highlight America’s commitment to Africa’s security, democratic development and people.
Other Trending Stories
The African leaders will seize the opportunity to engage with President Obama, his Cabinet members and other key leaders, including US business executives, on issues pertaining to the advancement of the African continent.
President's engagements
Mr Malor, who is also the Presidential Spokesperson, said the President would participate in sessions on trade and investment, expanding co-operation on peace and security and gaining a better future for Africa’s next generation.
On the sidelines of the summit, the President and the First Lady would engage in a number of activities before and after the summit, he said.
He said as part of the summit, Mrs Mahama would take part in a special session to be hosted by the US First Lady, Michelle Obama, and a former US First Lady, Laura Bush.