MAHAMA AND MACRON STRENGTHEN GHANA-FRANCE TIES AT PARIS PEACE FORUM
The two leaders discussed maritime security, health financing, and regional stability, with France pledging support for Ghana's development agenda and backing its campaign for slavery reparations.
President John Dramani Mahama and French President Emmanuel Macron held extensive bilateral talks at the Élysée Palace on Thursday, focusing on security cooperation, economic development, and regional stability during the 2025 Paris Peace Forum.
The meeting began with President Macron offering condolences for the passing of Ghana’s former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. The discussions then centered on strengthening Ghana-France relations, with President Mahama seeking French assistance to combat piracy in Ghana’s territorial waters amid growing threats in the Gulf of Guinea.
A key economic agenda item was a French concessionary loan for Ghana’s health sector awaiting parliamentary approval. President Mahama urged his counterpart to leverage influence with the International Monetary Fund to facilitate Ghana’s access to the facility from the French Development Bank, citing Ghana’s improved debt-to-GDP ratio.
As African Union Champion of African Financial Institutions, Mahama advocated for collaborative efforts to renegotiate infrastructure loan agreements with lower interest rates. He also highlighted Ghana’s one-million-coders programme and requested French support to train additional French language teachers in Ghanaian schools.
President Macron pledged support for Ghana’s slavery reparations initiative while cautioning that the discussion should acknowledge the involvement of various historical actors beyond Western powers. The French leader also commended Ghana’s economic reforms and pledged continued support for its development agenda.
The leaders discussed the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel region, with Macron praising Mahama’s regional leadership. Several upcoming collaboration opportunities were identified, including the VivaTech Summit in Nairobi and the AU-EU summit in Angola.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
