Franco-Ghanaian ties growing stronger -Clavier
The Ambassador of France, Mr Fredreic Clavier, has described President John Mahama’s recent visit to France as opening a new historical chapter of the Franco-Ghanaian ties towards closer and always more confident relations between both countries.
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He said the two presidents, during the visit pledged to boost political and economic ties as well as to develop a yet -to-be signed strategic partnership document which sets the priorities of the Franco-Ghanaian partnership for the period 2013-2016 in the fields of governance, economic growth, sustainable development, culture and Francophony.
The French envoy stated this in an interview to mark “Bastille Day” (French National Day) which falls tomorrow.
Political Relations:
According to the French envoy, the political relations between France and Ghana have never been so good and dynamic.
He said the cooperation between both countries keeps growing and cited France and Ghana working side by side with mutual respect and trust, not only regarding bilateral projects, but also regarding international issues.
For example, Mr Clavier said the cooperation between France and Ghana in Mali emphasised that France and Ghana shared many views on the international agenda and cooperate for peace and security.
France and Ghana are now engaged on all topics in a climate of high-level confidence.
Economic Ties
On the state of the economic relationship between the two countries, Mr Clavier said that French companies consider Ghana as a “safe harbour” for their investments in sub-Saharan Africa.
Currently, he said about 60 of them already had a commercial presence in Ghana and assured that many more French companies would certainly enter the Ghanaian market.
Ambassador Clavier also recalled that the official visit of President Mahama to France was preceded by a mission to Ghana of 32 French companies belonging to MEDEF, the association representing the business interests in France.
He said many contacts were established during the visit by the French companies with key stakeholders as well as decision makers of the Ghanaian economy.
Most of our companies recognised that they are willing to support Ghana’s efforts to succeed in the path of development, especially regarding its infrastructure equipment,” he stated.
Additionally, he said foreign direct investment flowing from France to Ghana was estimated to €200 million in 2011.
“In 2012, our bilateral trade exchanges amounted to more than 1 billion Euros. As exchanges between France and Ghana are being developed, this figure will continue to increase in the upcoming years. It shows our confidence in the future of Ghana,” he proudly stated.
Academic Cooperation:
Commenting on the first Ghana-France Higher Education conference, Ambassador Clavier said France and Ghana have decided to enhance bilateral relations in the areas of higher education and research for development.
Academic cooperation is one of the four focuses for the next four years and this is why we organised the first Ghana- France Higher Education Conference with the Association of Vice Chancellors of Ghana on June, 18 and 19, 2013, he stated.
The conference brought together around 80 participants to undertake a medium and long term process to reinforce higher education relations between French and Ghanaian universities.
According to the French Ambassador, five agreements have been signed and a Ghana-France Monitoring Committee will be set up next September, to prepare new projects as well as the second conference in France next year.
“We do want to increase student mobility, to develop joint research projects to define formal framework through inter-university agreement for the three doctoral schools in French literature, mathematics and computer science, which had been under way since 2011. Moreover, we intend to put in place Franco-Ghanaian courses notably at a master’s degree level,” he stated.
Sports fraternity:
With the aim of the Black Satellites’s second coronation at the FIFA U-20 World Cup effectively crushed by France last Wednesday, Ambassador Clavier said that he was hoping for a draw but unfortunately “it was impossible.”
He said that Ghana’s team was very impressive and expressed the hope that “Ghana would be able to have its chance during the senior World Cup.”
In his view, “sports is a way of life; sometimes you win and sometimes you lose; you will always have a new opportunity,’ he told the Daily Graphic.
Celebration
As part of the French National Day, Ambassador Clavier said festivals and firework displays would be organised all over France.
He said that a military parade takes place in Paris each year and welcomes troops which fight with the French army.
This year, in order to honour the troop contributing countries to the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA), France invited its contingent to march past at the military parade. Ten Ghanaian soldiers will participate, he told the Daily Graphic.
By Kobby Asmah/Ghana