France has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Ghana’s defence and security capabilities as both countries seek to deepen their longstanding bilateral military cooperation.
The assurance was given by the French Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Diarra Dime-Labille, during a courtesy call on the Minister for Defence, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, at the Ministry of Defence.
The Ambassador was accompanied by the French Defence Attaché, Colonel Grégoire Madelin, and other officials from the French Embassy.
The meeting focused on strengthening defence relations between Ghana and France and exploring new areas of cooperation, particularly in military training, maritime security and cybersecurity.
Mr Adjei expressed appreciation to the French Government for its continued support to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), including assistance with the acquisition of an Airbus helicopter and support for the Ghana Navy’s efforts to secure the Gulf of Guinea.
He noted that France has supported the Ghana Navy through joint exercises, visits by French naval vessels and professional training for Ghanaian military personnel.
The Minister also acknowledged the assistance provided by a French Navy ship during a recent piracy attack in Ghanaian waters.
According to him, negotiations are also at an advanced stage for French shipbuilding company OCEA to construct a Fast Patrol Vessel for the Ghana Navy, with support from the French Government.
The discussions further touched on Ghana’s fight against illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey. Mr Adjei expressed gratitude to France for its support in helping Ghana tackle the environmental and security challenges associated with the menace.
He also called for stronger cooperation in cybersecurity, stressing the need to build Ghana’s capacity to protect critical systems and infrastructure from emerging cyber threats.
In response, Ambassador Dime-Labille congratulated Mr Adjei on his appointment and reaffirmed France’s readiness to deepen bilateral defence cooperation with Ghana.
She also highlighted the importance of French language training within the Ghana Armed Forces, noting that more than ten French language centres are currently operating across GAF garrisons.
The Ambassador said France remains committed to supporting the continuous training and professional development of Ghanaian military officers as part of efforts to further strengthen the partnership between the two countries.
Ghana|Atinkaonlone.com|Mavis Fantevi
