President John Dramani Mahama will this evening leave Accra for the United States of America, to attend the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington DC, at the special invitation of President Barack Obama.

President Obama in his invitation expressed his special connection to Ghana, stating that he and US First Lady Michelle Obama would like to reciprocate the hospitality that Ghanaians showed them during their visit to Ghana in 2009.

The Summit, scheduled to take place on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th August is under the theme: "Investing in the Next Generation."

A major highlight of President Mahama's trip will be the signing of a new Compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, for funds worth more than half-a-billion US dollars to be devoted to solving the challenges facing Ghana's Power / Energy Sector. This new Compact is expected to be a key turning point in ensuring the delivery of safe, reliable and secure power to all Ghanaians.

The US-Africa Leaders Summit, is aimed at deepening the rich and longstanding partnership between the US and the African continent, especially as Africa is seen as the world's next great economic success story, with the continent being home to six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world. All African Heads of State are expected to be in attendance at the Summit.

The President is accompanied by First Lady Lordina Mahama, who will participate in a number of events, including an all-day meeting of the spouses of all the African Heads of State on Wednesday, 6th August, to be hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama, with support from former First Lady Laura Bush, at the John F. Kennedy Centre.

The President and First Lady are expected to return home on Sunday, 10th August. Vice-President, Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, will be Acting, in the President's absence, in accordance with Article 60 (8) of the Constitution of Ghana.