France, Ghana to sign agreement for sovereign debt restructuring
France and Ghana are set to sign a bilateral agreement for the restructuring of sovereign debt.
Presently, France is supporting the country’s economic recovery effort, with sovereign loans from the State to State in the field of maritime safety and public health.
The French Ambassador to Ghana, Jules-Armand Aniambossou, announced this when he addressed guests at an event to celebrate the National French Day celebration hosted at his residence in Accra last Saturday.
Ambassador Aniambossou lauded the role of the France-Ghana Chamber of Commerce in contributing to the economic growth of both countries.
Bastille Day Celebration
The French National Day Celebration, also known as “Le jour de la Bastille” in French, is observed on July 14 each year by France in honour of the French Revolution.
It signifies the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, symbolising the fight of the French people against oppression and the birth of freedom and democracy, as well as uniting the people of France.
It is also in recognition of the "Féte de la Fédération”, which was marked on July 14, 1790; a day to observe the values of liberty, equality and fraternity, that became the motto of the French Republic.
The anniversary observed by the French Embassy was graced by a host of dignitaries, including the Minister of State in Charge of Public Sector Reforms, Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, who represented the government; the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Jinapor; the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, and the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.
Also present were members of the Diplomatic Corps led by the Dean of the Corps, Maher Kheir, traditional authorities, chief executive officers of Cooperate Institutions and Government Agencies, as well as the French Community in Ghana.
Commendation
Mr Aniambossou praised the strong bond between Ghana and France, highlighting the deepened relationship between the two countries, emphasising the commitment of both nations to mutual respect, equality and common interests.
The ambassador lauded Ghana for confirming its status as the beacon of democracy with the successful organisation of last year’s elections and the peaceful political transition.
“You have shown that your country is still the beacon of democracy, the beacon of stability in the region. Ghana has entered a new phase, and France stands by its side,” he said.
He further commended the private sector, especially the French companies, which had maintained confidence in Ghana and stayed even in challenging times.
He indicated that French companies in Ghana had created more than 50,000 direct and indirect jobs with more than €2.5 billion investments in the country.
Commitment
Speaking on behalf of the government, the Minister of State in Charge of Public Sector Reforms, Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, said government was committed to strengthening the strong foundations it had established with France over the years, inspired by a spirit of mutual respect, convergence of interests, and a shared aspiration for the continued prosperity and well-being of their citizens.
She emphasised that Ghana attached profound significance to its enduring and cordial bilateral relations with France and expressed gratitude to the French government for its invaluable support during the last election and democratic transitions, as well as its unwavering solidarity with the Ghanaian people.
“France's steadfast commitment to the principles of multilateralism, global peace, and international stability mirrors the core values upheld by Ghana.
We are privileged to collaborate with France in the promotion of these shared ideals across the African continent and on the global stage,” she said.
Ms Akanvariba said the government welcomed several collaborations and the efforts to equip the Ghanaian youth with relevant skills for the future through the exchange programme between the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Université Paris-Saclay under the Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development Project (IA4SDG).
The minister added that the government was encouraged by the continued spirit of cooperation and remained committed to harnessing the full potential of various dynamic sectors such as creative arts, security, language and education, among others, for the sustainable advancement of the country’s national development agenda.
