A South African Company would support Ghana to develop at least 500 affordable housing units by the end of this year, Vice President John Dramani Mahama has announced.

The company would also cooperate with the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology to develop the Mole National Game Reserve to promote tourism in the country.

These were contained in a joint press statement issued by the governments of South Africa and Ghana, as part of the three-day official visit of South African Deputy President Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe to Ghana.

The press statement, which was read by Mr Emmanuel Kofi Buah, a Deputy Minister for Energy, heralded the details of the visit and some of the agreements the two countries had reached.

Vice President Mahama, who explained some of the issues in a press interaction, said the Government of Ghana would provide the land and all the legal backings, while their South African counterparts would provide other logistics for their construction.

On the provision of water, he added that the GUMA group of companies from South Africa, would provide containers for the treatment of borehole and river water for distribution to smaller communities in the rural areas.

He said sufficient arrangements had been made to subsequently sign agreements in the areas of environment, electricity and energy related matters.

Deputy President Motlanthe, who had earlier in the day visited the Akosombo dam to find out the operations there, commended government of Ghana for spearheading democracy and good governance in the country since the time of late president Kwame Nkrumah.

During his three-day visit to Ghana, the Deputy President had bilateral meetings with President John Evans Atta Mills, Vice President Mahama and some sector Ministers.

He also visited the Kwame Nkrumah Mauseleum, Akosombo dam and held meetings with the South African Business community in Ghana.

Vice President Mahama has since returned to South Africa.**