President John Dramani Mahama and French President Emmanuel Macron have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening relations between Ghana and France during bilateral talks at the Élysée Palace in Paris.
The discussions, held on the sidelines of the 2025 Paris Peace Forum, focused on security cooperation, economic development, and regional peace.
Both leaders commended the Paris Peace Initiative and described it as a vital platform for advancing global cooperation. Central to their discussions was Ghana’s request for French assistance in tackling piracy in its territorial waters, as the country faces increasing maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea.
President Mahama also appealed for France’s support in fast-tracking a concessionary loan to boost Ghana’s health sector.
The facility, sourced from the French Development Bank, is awaiting parliamentary approval. He urged President Macron to use his influence with the International Monetary Fund to expedite access, citing Ghana’s improved debt-to-GDP ratio as evidence of fiscal stability.
In his role as the African Union’s Champion of African Financial Institutions, President Mahama called for a stronger partnership with France to renegotiate existing loan agreements for infrastructure projects at more favourable interest rates. He underscored the importance of robust road infrastructure to facilitate trade across the continent, noting Ghana’s role as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
Touching on education and technology, President Mahama highlighted Ghana’s One Million Coders initiative, which has already enrolled 200,000 students. He requested French support in training more French language teachers to enhance bilingual education in Ghanaian schools.
President Macron pointed to upcoming avenues for collaboration, including the VivaTech Summit in Nairobi in May 2026, where Ghana could showcase its progress in digital innovation. He also mentioned the African Union-European Union summit in Angola and the G7 meeting in June 2026, pledging to advocate for increased international support for Ghana at these fora.
The two leaders also addressed the global reparations debate. President Mahama reiterated Ghana’s leadership in the campaign for reparations for slavery. President Macron expressed support for the initiative, recalling France’s recognition of slavery as a crime, but urged that the dialogue take into account the broader historical context involving multiple actors.
The talks further delved into the worsening security situation in the Sahel, especially terrorist activities in Mali and other Alliance of Sahel States (AES) countries. President Macron commended President Mahama’s proactive leadership and Ghana’s ongoing economic reforms, assuring France’s continued partnership in Ghana’s development drive.