Keypoints:
- France to assist Ghana on Gulf security
- Health-sector loan and AfCFTA infrastructure discussed
- Leaders reaffirm Sahel stability and reparations talks
PRESIDENT John Dramani Mahama of Ghana and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron have agreed to deepen cooperation across security, trade and economic development following bilateral talks at the Élysée Palace on Thursday, held on the sidelines of the 2025 Paris Peace Forum.
A respectful opening
The meeting began with President Macron offering condolences for the death of Ghana’s former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. Both leaders praised the Paris Peace Initiative as a platform for strengthening ties between France and Ghana.
Maritime security tops the agenda
President Mahama requested French support in tackling piracy in Ghana’s territorial waters and the wider Gulf of Guinea. He said the threat to regional maritime integrity had grown significantly and that joint action was vital.
Economic cooperation and debt reform
Talks also covered a French concessional loan for Ghana’s health sector awaiting parliamentary approval. Mahama urged President Macron to use his influence with the International Monetary Fund and the French Development Bank (AFD) to expedite access, citing Ghana’s improved debt-to-GDP ratio.
As the African Union’s Champion of African Financial Institutions, Mahama pressed for a joint effort to renegotiate infrastructure loans at lower interest rates and stressed the need for better transport links to unlock the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose secretariat is based in Accra.
Digital innovation and language training
Highlighting Ghana’s One Million Coders programme, which has already enrolled over 200,000 students, Mahama asked France to help train additional French-language teachers to boost bilingual education. Macron responded by noting several upcoming collaboration platforms, including the VivaTech Summit in Nairobi in May 2026, the AU–EU Summit in Angola, and the G7 Summit in June 2026, where France would champion Ghana’s development interests.
Regional stability and reparations
Both leaders addressed the worsening security situation in the Sahel, particularly in Mali and neighbouring members of the Alliance of Sahel States. Macron commended Ghana’s leadership and pledged continued French support for its reform agenda.
On reparations for slavery, which Ghana is leading within the African Union, Macron reiterated France’s backing but said the global conversation should recognise the involvement of all historical actors, not only Western nations.
A forward-looking partnership
By the close of their meeting, both presidents reaffirmed a shared vision for peace and inclusive growth in Africa, signalling a renewed era of Ghana–France collaboration grounded in mutual respect and shared development goals.
