President John Dramani Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama and his wife Lordina Mahama, yesterday evening arrived in Paris, France to a stimulating welcome at the VVIP Lounge of the Orly Airport in the French Capital.
He was accompanied by Madam Hannah Tetteh, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Trade and Industry, Alhaji Baba Kamara, a Presidential Advisor and Mr Raymond Atuguba, Executive Secretary to the President and Felix Owusu Quakyi, Deputy Minister for Information and Media Relations.
Apart from the French government officials, who were at the Airport to welcome the President and his delegation, about 20 African Ambassadors and dignitaries from the Ghanaian community in France also came to show their solidarity.
There was ecstatic drumming and dancing with most Ghanaians waving miniature Ghana flags and in typical Ghanaian apparel to demonstrate their excitement at his arrival.
President Mahama, who arrived at 1745 hours local time and received by Mrs Marylise Lebranchu, Minister of State Reform, Decentralisation and Civil Service, later inspected a guard of honour before retiring into his hotel in Paris.
The President, who would be undertaking a three-day official visit to the European country, would among other things hold bilateral discussions with his host President Francois Hollande and other important dignitaries.
He would later today visit the Elysee Palace, the French Presidency to hold talks with French President Francois Hollande.
President Mahama would also meet the French Development Minister, Pascal Canfin before visiting some important sites of the city.
The President would tomorrow hold meetings with African Diplomatic Corps and some organisations such as Societe Generale, Compaignie Fruitiere, Bollore, TOTAL, Credit Agricole among other Businesses in the French Capital.
He is also expected to visit the French Institute of International Relations to deliver a lecture on “Africa: New Opportunities, new political perspectives,” to crown his three-day official visit to France.
Source: GNA
