Ghana President John Atta Mills is set to visit with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House for a meeting Ghana says will “further deepen” the ties between the two countries.

Mr. Mills' communication director, Koku Anyidoho, told VOA the two leaders will discuss ways to enhance development as well as their shared economic ties.

“It is to further deepen the existing bilateral ties and bonds of friendship, developmental agenda that has existed between Ghana and the United States.”

The visit comes just days after Ghana celebrated its 55th anniversary of independence and two years after Mr. Obama visited Ghana on his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as president.

The U.S. president says he went to Ghana to highlight its democratic track record.

Ghana was the first black African country, south of the Sahara, to gain independence from Britain.

President Mills is seeking re-election in December.