KINGSTON, Jamaica—The President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, is now in Jamaica for his official state visit and is a special guest of the government of Jamaica for the nation’s emancipation and independence commemorations.

He is scheduled to address a special sitting of Parliament on Tuesday, August 4.

Observer Online spoke to some parliamentarians on Tuesday who lauded the president’s visit as both timely and significant during Jamaica’s emancipation and independence celebration.

“I think it is quite welcoming and timely for our emancipation independence celebration. We are at a place in our history where this visit is quite significant. Jamaica supports the movement, and we look forward to hearing from him today,” said Member of Parliament of Hanover Western Heatha Miller-Bennett.

Meanwhile, Senator Kavan Gayle shared that it’s an interesting visit.

“It comes at the right time during our independence. We have had a very good relationship with the Ghanaian government and the people of Ghana. It’s a rich heritage. It’s part of our ancestry, and we look forward to creating further collaborations with the country of Ghana and ourselves here in Jamaica,” said Gayle.

(Video: Llewellyn Wynter)