KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica will welcome President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, and South Africa’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes, as special guests during this year’s Emancipation and Independence celebrations.

President Mahama will make an official visit to Jamaica from August 2 to 5, 2026, while Deputy Minister Botes will visit from August 4 to 7, 2026, representing South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the country’s Independence celebrations.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said Mahama’s visit builds on a series of high-level engagements that have strengthened ties between Jamaica and Ghana. The two countries have expanded cooperation in health, defence, trade and investment, education, culture, tourism, air services and technical exchange.