British Prime Minister, Tony Blair begins a three-day official visit to Ghana today. The visit forms part of the British Prime Minister’s West African tour. The historic visit, the first since Harold Macmillan visited Ghana in January 1960, will offer the platform for the two countries to strengthen traditional relations between them.

Mr Blair will hold discussions with President Kufuor at the Castle, Osu on bilateral and multilateral issues, especially those that concern Ghana and Africa.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss in detail, the effects of the World Trade Organisation on Ghana and the way forward. Mr Blair is expected to use the opportunity to discuss the expectations of Ghana and other developing countries from the forth-coming G8 summit in Canada this year.

The British Premier will visit the Armed Forces Staff and Command College in Teshie, near Accra; the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana at Tafo after which they will make a brief stopover in Suhum, both in the Eastern Region before returning to Accra. Relations between Ghana and Britain have traditionally been excellent since Ghana won independence from Britain on 6th March, 1957.