Ghana and the Netherlands on Wednesday announced plans to organise joint celebrations of 300 years of bilateral relations.

Preparation for the six months of celebrations, which start from June this year, was the focus of a meeting between Vice President Aliu Mahama and the Netherlands Ambassador, Mr Alexander Heldring at the State House.

The two men lauded the relationship between their countries, especially the promotion of sports, culture, politics and development co-operation and stressed the need to deepen the ties.

They also discussed a meeting of a Ghanaian planning committee to be chaired by Madam Hawa Yakubu, Minister of Tourism on Thursday to draw up an elaborate programme for the joint celebrations.

Mr Heldring traced the diplomatic relations between the two countries from November 1701 when a Dutch envoy, David van Nijendael, led a delegation to call on the King of Ashanti, Otumfuo Osei Tutu I to congratulate him for establishing an Ashanti State.

He said as part of the celebrations, a high-level Dutch government delegation would visit Ghana in June to explore further economic and other areas of co-operation.

The delegation will include the Minister of Foreign Trade who will be accompanied by 50 business entrepreneurs.

The Minister for International Development who has listed Ghana as one of the 17 priority countries to benefit from Dutch Technical Development assistance would follow this visit.

These are expected to be reciprocated by a Ghanaian cultural performance in Holland and the discussion to strengthen bilateral relations.

Alhaji Mahama said the government is committed to the rule of law, good governance and promotion of the private sector to revamp the economy and appealed for Dutch assistance.

He commended the Dutch government for supporting Ghana in the field of education, agriculture and telecommunication and the immense assistance it gave to the Electoral Commission during the last general election.

"I hope we will continue to deepen these bilateral relations," he said.