Mahama and Macron engage in discussions to enhance maritime ...

Mahama and Macron engage in discussions to enhance maritime security in Ghana

President John Dramani Mahama and French President Emmanuel Macron engaged in comprehensive bilateral discussions at the Élysée Palace on Thursday, October 30, focusing on security collaboration, economic growth, and regional stability during the 2025 Paris Peace Forum. The meeting commenced on a serious note, with President Macron expressing condolences for the recent death of Ghana’s former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings. Both leaders commended the Paris Peace Initiative and the enhancement of ties between Ghana and France. A significant aspect of the discussions was Ghana’s appeal for French support in addressing piracy within its territorial waters. President Mahama sought assistance to safeguard Ghana’s maritime integrity against the rising threats of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. The two leaders also deliberated on a French concessionary loan intended for Ghana’s health sector, which is pending parliamentary approval. President Mahama urged his French counterpart to leverage his influence with the International Monetary Fund to facilitate Ghana’s access to funding from the French Development Bank, highlighting Ghana’s improved debt-to-GDP ratio. In his role as the African Union (AU) Champion of African Financial Institutions, President Mahama advocated for cooperation to renegotiate loan agreements with reduced interest rates for infrastructure initiatives. He underscored Ghana’s position as the host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat and the necessity for improved road infrastructure to promote intra-African trade. President Mahama also highlighted Ghana’s ambitious one-million-coders initiative, which has already enrolled 200,000 students. He requested French assistance in training more French language educators to enhance language instruction in Ghanaian schools. President Macron highlighted several forthcoming opportunities for collaboration, including the VivaTech Summit in Nairobi scheduled for May 2026, where Ghana could present its digital innovation capabilities, the African Union-European Union summit in Angola, and the G7 summit in June 2026, during which France would advocate for enhanced support for Ghana. President Mahama brought up the issue of reparations for slavery, a cause that Ghana is currently championing. President Macron expressed his support for this initiative, pointing out that France has criminalized slavery, while also cautioning that the reparations discourse should recognize the involvement of various parties beyond just Western powers. The leaders addressed the worsening security situation in the Sahel region, particularly the terrorist incursions affecting Mali and other nations within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). President Macron praised President Mahama’s leadership in the subregion and acknowledged Ghana’s economic reforms, committing to ongoing French support for Ghana’s development agenda. Share this: Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Like this:Like Loading...

The meeting commenced on a serious note, with President Macron expressing condolences for the recent death of Ghana’s former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.

Both leaders commended the Paris Peace Initiative and the enhancement of ties between Ghana and France. A significant aspect of the discussions was Ghana’s appeal for French support in addressing piracy within its territorial waters.

President Mahama sought assistance to safeguard Ghana’s maritime integrity against the rising threats of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

The two leaders also deliberated on a French concessionary loan intended for Ghana’s health sector, which is pending parliamentary approval. President Mahama urged his French counterpart to leverage his influence with the International Monetary Fund to facilitate Ghana’s access to funding from the French Development Bank, highlighting Ghana’s improved debt-to-GDP ratio.

In his role as the African Union (AU) Champion of African Financial Institutions, President Mahama advocated for cooperation to renegotiate loan agreements with reduced interest rates for infrastructure initiatives.

He underscored Ghana’s position as the host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat and the necessity for improved road infrastructure to promote intra-African trade.

President Mahama also highlighted Ghana’s ambitious one-million-coders initiative, which has already enrolled 200,000 students. He requested French assistance in training more French language educators to enhance language instruction in Ghanaian schools.

President Macron highlighted several forthcoming opportunities for collaboration, including the VivaTech Summit in Nairobi scheduled for May 2026, where Ghana could present its digital innovation capabilities, the African Union-European Union summit in Angola, and the G7 summit in June 2026, during which France would advocate for enhanced support for Ghana.

President Mahama brought up the issue of reparations for slavery, a cause that Ghana is currently championing. President Macron expressed his support for this initiative, pointing out that France has criminalized slavery, while also cautioning that the reparations discourse should recognize the involvement of various parties beyond just Western powers.

The leaders addressed the worsening security situation in the Sahel region, particularly the terrorist incursions affecting Mali and other nations within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

President Macron praised President Mahama’s leadership in the subregion and acknowledged Ghana’s economic reforms, committing to ongoing French support for Ghana’s development agenda.

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