President John Dramani Mahama will join the Government and People of The Gambia to observe the 50th Independence anniversary celebration today.

A communication from the Presidency to that effect read on the floor of Parliament by Speaker Edward Doe Adjaho, said the President would leave Accra on the Morning of February 18 and return that same day.

In his absence, Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, in accordance with Article 50 (8) of the Constitution, will act.

President Mahama, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government, is expected to be joined by several heads of states.