The second Political Dialogue session between Ghana and France was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in Accra on 16th October 2014. This second session, as was the case during the first session which took place in Paris last year was preceded by talks between the two Foreign Ministers, Ms Hanna SerwaahTetteh (MP) and Laurent Fabius on 11th September, 2014.
The Ghanaian delegation was led by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Amb. Leslie K. Christian, and on the French side by the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Mr. Remy Rioux. Several Ministries and institutions of the two countries were involved in the bilateral discussions.
The agenda for the discussions was based on bilateral, regional as well as global issues of mutual importance to the two countries which included matters on the UN agenda within the context of UN Agenda 2015.
The discussions were characterized by lively and frank exchanges.
The conclusions reached at the Dialogue led both sides to agree that Ghana and France shared similar views especially on issues of peace and security in West Africa such as the fight against terrorism, piracy in the Guinea Gulf and the fight against Ebola. The state of progress as well as shared commitments to ensure success on issues relating to Mali, Nigeria and Ebola were also noted by both sides.
Both sides agreed on the importance for the region of the conclusion of the Regional Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union. They also underscored the importance of ensuring continued commitment to the success of the Climate Change Conference to be held in Paris in 2015.
Ghana and France finally agreed on the importance of keeping and further enhancing the process of dialogue and constant exchange of views in the future.
The French side indicated their respect for the commitment of His Excellency President John DramaniMahama for his role as Chair of ECOWAS and wished him well for the work ahead.
The next session of the Dialogue will be held in Paris in 2015.
