On the eve of African Union (AU) Day, Friday 24th May, 2019, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion of Malta, Hon. Carmelo Abela, presented various amounts of money to seven (7) Maltese Development NGOs operating in different parts of Africa. According to the Minister, the amount totalling Four Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty-Three Euros (€459, 283.00) forms part of Maltese Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Africa. The highest amount of Seventy-five Thousand Euros (€75,000.00) went to the ‘Ghana Mission’, the NGO under whose auspices the HopeXchange Medical Centre in Ghana was established and is currently being managed. Trustees of the Hospital intend to make it one of the best teaching hospitals in Sub-Sahara Africa.
On Saturday, 25th May, 2019, the African Union Day, the Mission participated in an inter-cultural musical and food fair programme at the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta the capital. Various African dishes were presented by groups of Africans resident, in Malta including Algeria, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, D R Congo, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Mission presented Ghanaian dishes including jollof rice, waakye, fried plantain, garifoto and grilled chicken. In addition, Ghanaian alcoholic beverages were freely served to both participants and visitors amidst cultural performances. Trade and Investments promotional materials as well as Golden Tree chocolates were also displayed.
On 26 May, 2019, staff of the Mission attended a fashion show. Among the participants was a Maltese garment company based in Accra, Ghana, which aims at breaking into the European fashion market with garments made from textiles manufactured in Ghana.
