President Petr Pavel of the Czech Republic departed Accra on Thursday, April 10, 2025, after a three-day State visit to Ghana.

President Pavel is the first world leader to pay a State visit to President John Dramani Mahama following his inauguration for a second term on January 7, 2025.

He was seen off at Kotoka International Airport by Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff at Ghana’s Presidency.

Other senior government officials present at the airport to bid farewell to President Pavel included Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister for Foreign Affairs; Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, the Minister for Defence; and Alex Segbefia, Chief of Staff to the Vice President.

During the three-day State visit, President Mahama and President Pavel signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Political Consultations and a Bilateral Air Services Agreement, also known as the Air Transport Agreement, between Ghana and the Czech Republic.

In addition, they discussed the need to expand the scope of their relations and cooperation with the Czech Republic at both the bilateral and multilateral levels.

At the bilateral level, emphasis was placed on the potential for enhanced trade and economic cooperation.

President Pavel’s State visit underscores the cordial and long-standing relations that have existed between Ghana and the Czech Republic, dating back to 1961 when Ghana and the then Czechoslovak Republic opened diplomatic missions in their respective capitals. These ties have been reinforced over the decades through high-level visits and the establishment of resident missions.

The visit also marks another milestone in the strong diplomatic relationship between the two countries and reaffirms the political, economic, and cultural cooperation that form the foundation of Ghana’s engagement with the Czech Republic.

As part of the visit, President Mahama and President Pavel also inaugurated the Czech-Ghana Business Forum in Accra. The forum focused on agriculture, health, and water resource management, aiming to foster partnerships between companies from both nations.

President Pavel also commissioned the 40-bed Kpone Municipal Hospital in the Greater Accra Region.

The facility, built by the Czech company VAMED Health Projects CZ s.r.o., is equipped with modern medical amenities, including an Outpatient Department, Surgical Suite, Delivery Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Laboratory, Pharmacy, and a 40-bed inpatient ward.

It also includes a Services Block, staff offices, and residential accommodation, and comes with a one-year post-completion warranty and maintenance plan.

This initiative was made possible through funding of 71.5 million euros, secured from Erste Group Bank AG and Česká Spořitelna a.s., with an export credit guarantee of 8.6 million euros from EGAP, the Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation of the Czech Republic.