Accra: France and Ghana have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations through expanded cooperation in trade, investment, innovation, culture, education, and security. Both countries expressed confidence in a partnership that continues to grow in scope and strategic importance.
According to Ghana News Agency, the longstanding relationship between France and Ghana has entered a new phase, underpinned by sustained political engagement at the highest level and strengthened collaboration across key sectors of national development. Speaking at a reception in Accra to commemorate France's National Day, commonly known as Bastille Day, French Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Diarra Dim© Labille, emphasized France's commitment to working closely with Ghana in promoting peace, sustainable development, and shared prosperity.
Bastille Day, celebrated annually on July 14, marks the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris in 1789, an event regarded as the start of the French Revolution. The day commemorates the core values of the French Republic: liberty, equality, and fraternity. It is France's National Day and is observed worldwide by French embassies with receptions, cultural events, and reflections on Franco-partner relations.
France and Ghana have maintained diplomatic relations since Ghana's independence in 1957 and have steadily expanded cooperation in trade, investment, education, defence, health, infrastructure, and cultural exchange. France is one of Ghana's key European development partners, with French companies investing across sectors including energy, transport, water, construction, telecommunications, finance, and logistics.
The Ambassador highlighted that bilateral relations have been championed by President John Dramani Mahama and French President Emmanuel Macron through a series of high-level engagements this year. She recalled that Ghana and France co-chaired the One Health Summit in Lyon on April 7, advocating reforms to strengthen global health systems. This engagement was followed by President Mahama's official visit to Paris on April 8, during which he discussed issues of mutual interest with President Macron, including health, innovation, artificial intelligence, investment, employment, peace, and security. The two leaders later met again during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi in May, before France participated in Ghana's Conference on Reparations in June, further demonstrating the growing political cooperation between the two nations.
Madam Diarra Dim© Labille stated that economic cooperation remains one of the strongest pillars of the bilateral relationship. She commended the contribution of the French business community, the Agence Fran§aise de D©veloppement (AFD), the France-Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and France's foreign trade advisers to Ghana's economic growth. More than 60 French companies currently operate in Ghana, representing investments valued at approximately £2.5 billion and supporting nearly 70,000 direct and indirect jobs. These investments span agriculture, irrigation, energy, youth, and women's entrepreneurship, among other strategic sectors, while development programmes supported by the AFD and the European Union continue to contribute to Ghana's socio-economic transformation.
Cooperation between the two countries is also expanding in education, science, innovation, and culture. The Ambassador highlighted the Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development (AI4SD) project, which brings together researchers, lecturers, and students from leading institutions in Ghana and France to advance scientific collaboration and innovation. She also cited the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between Paris-Saclay University and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology as another milestone in strengthening academic partnerships. The growing number of Ghanaian students pursuing higher education in France, along with the activities of the France Ghana Alumni Association, continues to enrich relations between the two countries.
On cultural cooperation, Madam Diarra Dim© Labille highlighted the 'Creation Africa Ghana' initiative, through which France recently awarded grants to 15 Ghanaian entrepreneurs to support businesses within the cultural and creative industries. Additionally, France has expanded defence and security cooperation with Ghana following the establishment of a defence mission within the French Embassy in Accra about two years ago, with a focus on maritime security.
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, speaking on behalf of the Government of Ghana, reaffirmed Ghana's commitment to strengthening its longstanding friendship with France. She commended the Ambassador for her dedication to advancing bilateral relations since assuming office in Accra and thanked her for expressing solidarity with victims of recent floods. The Minister emphasized that the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity resonate strongly in today's world, where democratic values, peace, and human dignity face increasing challenges. Ghana appreciates France's contributions to national development through investments in agriculture, transport, energy, education, and health, viewing such partnerships as critical to Ghana's economic revitalisation and industrial transformation.
Madam Gomashie expressed optimism that cooperation between the two countries would continue to expand into tourism, culture, innovation, and green growth, while encouraging greater technology transfer and responsible investment. She stressed that strong diplomatic relations are sustained not only through government-to-government cooperation but also through exchanges involving businesses, educational institutions, artists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and ordinary citizens.
'As we celebrate Bastille Day tonight, let us reaffirm our shared commitment to building a future defined by liberty, equality, peace, innovation, sustainable development, and expanded opportunities for our people,' she said.