By: Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
President John Dramani Mahama and French President Emmanuel Macron have held bilateral talks at the Élysée Palace in Paris, covering a broad range of issues including health, agriculture, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, regional security, and Ghana’s economic recovery.
The Wednesday meeting formed part of President Mahama’s one-day official visit to France.
Macron Commends Mahama’s One Health Role
The meeting opened on a warm note, with President Macron thanking President Mahama for travelling to Lyon to co-chair the One Health Summit.
He described the Accra Reset Initiative, championed by President Mahama, as “very important” and acknowledged its prominence during discussions at the summit.
Ghana Named First Beneficiary of French Health Compact
In a significant development, President Macron announced that Ghana has been selected as the first beneficiary of France’s National Health Platform, a health compact aimed at strengthening healthcare systems.
President Mahama welcomed the announcement and expressed gratitude for the support.
President Mahama Highlights Impact of Accra Reset Initiative
President Mahama said he was honoured to co-chair the summit and underscored its importance to the World Health Organization. He noted with satisfaction that the Accra Reset Initiative has produced concrete deliverables that can now be reviewed and expanded.
Cooperation in Agriculture, AI, and Infrastructure
The two leaders discussed deepening cooperation in agriculture to enhance food security and promote year-round farming. They also explored collaboration in artificial intelligence, support for maternal health, and infrastructure development, particularly the proposed Accra–Kumasi expressway.
Strengthening Development and Economic Recovery
The talks also focused on building on years of French development support through the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
President Mahama used the occasion to thank France and China for their support in Ghana’s debt restructuring, adding that the Ghanaian economy has rebounded strongly, with positive economic indicators.
Commitment to Security and Shared Values
Both leaders reaffirmed the strong bilateral ties between Ghana and France, anchored on shared commitments to democracy, a rules-based international order, and peace and security. Regional and global security concerns also featured prominently in the discussions.
