President John Mahama and French President Francois Hollande have agreed on a number of projects to be financed under the French Development Agency’s support for Ghana.
The two presidents, in a meeting in the Elysee Palace, discussed trade and development assistance to Ghana.
They also talked about ways to improve military cooperation, security and democracy in Africa and the need for Ghana to take advantage of its presence within a Francophone block to enhance the teaching and learning of the French language.
President Hollande, who just marked his first year in office, observed that Ghana’s economic progress has been widely recognised, noting that Ghana is one of the few countries in Africa with huge potential for growth a time of global economic recession.
President Hollande said he supports the new phase of his country’s relationship with Ghana, explaining that his invitation to President Mahama is aimed at enhancing that relationship and to familiarise better with development in Ghana.
The two presidents agreed to more French support in the area of tertiary education and support with French technical instructors and training of more Ghanaian French teachers in September.
On the crisis in Mali, President Hollande thanked Ghana for showing its support during the deployment of troops into the troubled African country. He was also grateful that Ghana provided engineering contingent to support in flushing out terrorists in Mali.
President Mahama thanked his host for the invitation and for sending a high level team to the funeral of the late President John Atta Mills.
He also acknowledged the growing presence of French businesses in Ghana, thanking the French government for its decision to keep Ghana among its 14 priority countries earmarked for support by the French Development Agency.
The President told journalists that his visit to Turkey and now France have had significant impact.
