By James Amoh Junior, GNA
Accra, July 16, GNA–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.
Bastille Day
Bastille Day, celebrated annually on July 14, marks the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris in 1789, an event widely regarded as the start of the French Revolution.
The day commemorates the core values of the French Republic: liberté, égalité, fraternité – 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
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.
Madam Diarra Dimé Labille, French Ambassador to Ghana, said the longstanding relationship between the two countries had 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, popularly known as Bastille Day, the Ambassador said France remained committed to working closely with Ghana in promoting peace, sustainable development and shared prosperity.
She said the annual celebration offered an opportunity to reflect on the values of the French Republic – liberty, equality and fraternity – while taking stock of the progress made in strengthening Franco-Ghanaian relations over the past year.
The Ambassador said bilateral relations had 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, where both countries advocated reforms to strengthen global health systems.
That engagement was followed by President Mahama’s official visit to Paris on April 8, during which he held discussions with President Macron on issues of mutual interest, 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 Dimé Labille said economic cooperation remained one of the strongest pillars of the bilateral relationship.
She commended the contribution of the French business community, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the France-Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and France’s foreign trade advisers to Ghana’s economic growth.
According to her, 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.
She said those 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 continued to contribute to Ghana’s socio-economic transformation.
The Ambassador said cooperation between the two countries was equally expanding in education, science, innovation and culture.
She 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.
According to her, the growing number of Ghanaian students pursuing higher education in France, together with the activities of the France Ghana Alumni Association, continued to enrich relations between the two countries.
The Ambassador praised Ghana’s growing engagement with the French language following its admission as a full member of the International Organisation of La Francophonie.
On cultural cooperation, Madam Diarra Dimé Labille highlighted the “Creation Africa Ghana” initiative, through which France recently awarded grants of between €10,000 and €30,000 to 15 Ghanaian entrepreneurs to support businesses within the cultural and creative industries.
The Ambassador said France had expanded defence and security cooperation with Ghana following the establishment of a defence mission within the French Embassy in Accra about two years ago.
She noted that the partnership, particularly in maritime security, was built on mutual respect and responsiveness to Ghana’s priorities.
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 Madam Diarra Dimé Labille for her dedication to advancing bilateral relations since assuming office in Accra and thanked her for expressing solidarity with victims of the recent floods.
The Minister said the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity continued to resonate strongly in today’s world, where democratic values, peace and human dignity faced increasing challenges.
She said Ghana appreciated France’s contributions to national development through investments in agriculture, transport, energy, education and health, adding that such partnerships remained 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 were 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.
GNA
Reporter: James Amoh Junior
Email: [email protected]
Edited by:Samuel Osei-Frempong