A bilateral agreement for the restructuring of sovereign debt is about to be signed between Ghana and France.
With sovereign loans from State to State in the areas of public health and maritime safety, France is currently aiding the nation’s economic recovery.
Jules-Armand Aniambossou, the French ambassador to Ghana, made this announcement last Saturday while speaking to guests at a celebration of National French Day held at his Accra home.
France-Ghana Chamber of Commerce’s contribution to both countries’ economic development was praised by Ambassador Aniambossou.
Celebration of Bastille Day
Every year on July 14, France commemorates the French Revolution by holding the French National Day Celebration, or “Le jour de la Bastille” in French. It commemorates the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, which united the French people and symbolized their struggle against oppression and the emergence of freedom and democracy.
Additionally, it is in honor of the July 14, 1790, “Féte de la Fédération,” a day to commemorate the principles of equality, liberty, and fraternity that later became the French Republic’s motto.
Numerous dignitaries graced the anniversary observed by the French Embassy, including the government’s representative, Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, Minister of State in Charge of Public Sector Reforms; Dr. John Jinapor, Minister of Energy and Green Transition; Kofi Adams, Minister of Sports and Recreation; and Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The French Community in Ghana, traditional leaders, chief executives of government agencies and cooperative institutions, and members of the Diplomatic Corps, under the command of the Corps’ dean, Maher Kheir, were also in attendance.
Praise
Ghana and France have a strong bond, Mr. Aniambossou said, highlighting the two countries’ deepened relationship and their shared commitment to equality, respect, and common interests.
Through the peaceful political transition and the successful holding of last year’s elections, the ambassador praised Ghana for solidifying its position as a beacon of democracy.
“You have shown that your country is still the beacon of democracy, the beacon of stability in the region. Ghana has entered a new phase, and France stands by its side,” he mentioned.
He also gave credit to the private sector, particularly the French businesses, for continuing to have faith in Ghana despite difficult circumstances.
He said French companies had invested more than €2.5 billion in Ghana, creating more than 50,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Dedication
The government is dedicated to bolstering the solid foundations it has built with France over the years, motivated by a spirit of mutual respect, convergence of interests, and a shared aspiration for the ongoing prosperity and well-being of their citizens, said Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, Minister of State in Charge of Public Sector Reforms.
She emphasized that Ghana placed great importance on its long-standing and friendly bilateral ties with France and thanked the French government for its unwavering solidarity with the Ghanaian people and its invaluable support during the most recent election and democratic transitions.
“France’s steadfast commitment to the principles of multilateralism, global peace, and international stability mirrors the core values upheld by Ghana.
We are privileged to collaborate with France in the promotion of these shared ideals across the African continent and on the global stage,” she stated.
Under the Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development Project (IA4SDG), Ms. Akanvariba stated that the government applauded many partnerships and initiatives aimed at providing Ghanaian youth with future-ready skills through the exchange program between Université Paris-Saclay and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The minister went on to say that the government was inspired by the ongoing spirit of collaboration and was still dedicated to utilizing the full potential of several vibrant industries, including the creative arts, security, language, and education, among others, to sustainably advance the national development agenda of the nation.
