President John Dramani Mahama will on Thursday March 17 pay an official visit to the Scottish parliament.

The visit to Holyrood is part of the president’s visit to Scotland, where he will interact with the Ghanaian community in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Mr Mahama will also be presented with an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) by the University of Aberdeen on Friday 18 March.

“It will be my great pleasure to welcome His Excellency John Dramani Mahama to Holyrood as we extend the hand of friendship and seek to strengthen the economic and democratic ties between our two countries,” Scottish parliament’s Presiding Officer Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP, who will officially welcome Mr Mahama to the parliament, told the Scottish parliament’s website.

Mr Mahama will also meet with the leaders of Scotland’s political parties, observe First Minister’s Question Time, and address a meeting of MSPs.

Mr Mahama becomes the second Ghanaian president to visit the Scottish parliament after President Jerry Rawlings in 2000.