The Sultan of the oil-rich southeast Asian state of Brunei will pay a three-day visit to Ghana from August 29, officials said. The visit by Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world"s wealthiest men, to this cash-strapped cocoa-exporting West African nation follows one by Ghana"s President Jerry Rawlings to Brunei earlier this year.

Ghana, whose economy is under severe strain due to low world prices for its cocoa and gold exports, as well as high crude oil import bills, is looking for new sources of foreign investment and foreign exchange inflows. Analysts say Rawlings is likely to discuss oil supplies to his country on soft credit terms, and highlight investment opportunities to his Brunei guests.