By Rachel Kakraba and Grace Mensah
French Ambassador to Ghana, Diarra Dime Labille, has underscored the importance of French Alumni Ghana Association, FAGA, to nation building stating the network remains a formidable link between France and Ghana. She noted that the association continues to serve as an ambassador of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
“We celebrate the strength and importance of the France alumni community in Ghana, with over a thousand Ghanaian alumni and more than 530,000 worldwide. This network represents a powerful link between France and Ghana in education, business research, and diplomacy”
Madam Labille, was speaking at the 3rd edition of the flagship France Alumni Day, which was hosted at the French Embassy, in Accra, on Friday 23rd January 2026.
The event was an opportunity for Ghanaians who have pursued academic studies, professional training, or research activities in France to network and showcase the diversity of the France Alumni community in Ghana. It also explored professional development initiatives, mobility programmes, and prospects for future collaboration.
The French Ambassador to Ghana, Diarra Dime Labille, recognized the Alumni Day as an opportunity to recognize achievement, networking and building closer ties with the business community. She said the upcoming Africa Forward Summit later this year, will further strengthen economic and strategic cooperation between France and Africa.
“Looking ahead, the upcoming Africa Forward Summit in 2026 will further strengthen economic and strategic cooperation between France and Africa”
Madam Labille, explained that through careers as teachers, entrepreneurs, researchers, artists, and diplomats, members of FAGA have been actively contributing to development, innovation, and cooperation.
The president for FAGA, Catherine Blavo Lotsu, said FAGA in 2025, took decisive steps to revive, restructure, and reposition the association with the establishment of the first ever secretariat at the premises of campus France.
“We created the first ever secretariat at the campus France premises. We also recruited a national service personnel who is part of the alumni community who works at the Secretariat to help us run the day-to-day efforts”
She announced two landmark initiatives which she said FAGA is pursuing to reposition the Association.
“I am proud to officially announce two strategic initiatives that define the future of FAGA. One, the creation of FAGA job and career portal”
This she said will connect alumni to job opportunities, internships and consultancies such as talent pool for fresh companies and francophone institutions in Ghana.
Madam Lotsu, added “also this will promote career mobility, mentorship and professional growth within and outside our network”
She said FAGA will also create the FAGA Business and Innovation Network which will support alumni led businesses and startups.
“Knowing that we have a lot of entrepreneurs in our community, this initiative will support alumni-led businesses and startups, create opportunities for partnerships, procurement, and investments. It will encourage innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic collaboration between Ghana and France”
She expressed appreciation to the French ambassador to Ghana, for her invaluable support to FAGA, which she said harnesses her unwavering support for education.
Some members of FAGA shared experiences on how academic exposure in France has contributed to their career growth.
Amaria, who studied baking in France in 2022, said she chose the country to master the craft for which it is globally renowned.
“I went there in 2022, through campus France. It was a very, very great opportunity for me”
Another alumna said she was initially worried about facing a language barrier, but found that this was not the case.
“Don’t feel like the language is a barrier, language is not a barrier. When you go, you’re going to experience a lot of things. The people they are nice people”
The event further reflected on the central role of alumni in strengthening Franco-Ghanaian relations, contributing to knowledge transfer, innovation and cross-cultural dialogue to strengthen ties between the two countries.
