Security, Economy, Reparations Top Agenda at Élysée Talks
In a high-level diplomatic engagement on the sidelines of the 2025 Paris Peace Forum, President John Dramani Mahama and French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral ties between Ghana and France, with a focus on security, economic cooperation, and regional stability.
The two leaders met at the Élysée Palace on Thursday, where President Macron began by extending heartfelt condolences over the passing of Ghana’s former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
Talks between the two heads of state were wide-ranging and strategic. President Mahama made a strong case for French support in combating piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, stressing the urgent need to safeguard Ghana’s maritime borders from rising threats.
President Mahama also pushed for the swift approval of a French concessionary loan earmarked for Ghana’s health sector, currently awaiting parliamentary clearance. He urged President Macron to leverage his influence with the International Monetary Fund to facilitate Ghana’s access to the facility, citing the country’s improving debt-to-GDP ratio.
In his role as the African Union’s Champion of African Financial Institutions, Mahama called for a collaborative effort to renegotiate infrastructure loans across the continent, advocating for lower interest rates to accelerate development.
He also spotlighted Ghana’s role as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat, emphasizing the need for robust road infrastructure to unlock the full potential of intra-African trade.
The Ghanaian leader highlighted the country’s ambitious “One Million Coders” programme, which has already enrolled over 200,000 students. He appealed for French assistance in training French language teachers to bolster multilingual education in Ghanaian schools.
On the sensitive issue of slavery reparations, President Mahama reiterated Ghana’s leadership in championing justice and historical accountability. President Macron expressed support for the initiative, noting France’s criminalisation of slavery, but urged a nuanced conversation that recognizes the broader historical context.
The deteriorating security situation in the Sahel region also featured prominently in the discussions, with both leaders expressing concern over terrorist activity in Mali and other Alliance of Sahel States (AES) countries. Macron commended Mahama’s leadership in the subregion and pledged continued French backing for Ghana’s development agenda.
Looking ahead, President Macron identified key platforms for further collaboration, including the VivaTech Summit in Nairobi (May 2026), the AU-EU Summit in Angola, and the G7 Summit in June 2026, where France intends to champion Ghana’s interests on the global stage.
The meeting concluded with both leaders reaffirming their shared vision for a stronger, more resilient partnership between Ghana and France anchored in mutual respect, innovation, and a commitment to peace.