I am delighted to join all of you today to celebrate the laying of the foundation stone for the new Chancery building of the Embassy of France here in Accra. I am glad that the ceremony of this happy development has fallen to my lot. My appreciation of all things French is well known. I spent five of the most productive years of my youth living and working as a lawyer in Paris, which is responsible for this attachment.

Ghana's relation with France was established soon after Ghana's Independence in 1957 and has since grown from strength to strength.
This ceremony thus carries a unique symbolic importance. It marks sixty years of solidarity and support, and sixty years of cordial bilateral relations with Ghana. Our relations have been strengthened based on common values and a shared vision of our future together. Strong belief in democracy, human rights and the rule of law are the basis for this shared vision for the mutual prosperity of our two people.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an enriching experience and a moment of considerable joy to witness this occasion as it would be recalled that negotiations for the relocation of the French Embassy have been saddled with mixed feelings and undue amount of anxieties. Change can be uncomfortable. However, this change from the old site to the current location has occurred within manageable limits.

I am confident that the edifice of the new Chancery building would be the foundation stone and continuation of the growing interest of France in Ghana's Developmental Agenda. Our country continues to benefit from French support in sectors such as Health, Rural Water Supply, Agriculture, Construction, Telecommunication and Industry, for which we are grateful.

In recent times, Ghana and France have increased collaboration in security matters for the maintenance of peace and security through technical exchanges with the Military and Police Service. France agreed to support the AU in the development of its collective security system particularly, the African Standby Force and pledged financial support as well as offered to train 15,000 African troops for peace keeping. 

In May 2014, the Ghana-France Chamber of Commerce was outdoored in Accra as one of the initiatives of the economic rapprochement between our two countries. It carried into being the work of the Club Lutece, which was the original springboard of the Chamber and in which I was one of its initial sponsors. Only last month in February, Air France commenced its flights between Paris and Accra. This brings to record 170 French projects in Ghana with services as the leading sector.

This growing interest among French companies in Ghana is welcome and I want to say that Ghana recognises the importance of the security of such investments and would ensure that our relevant institutions stand to protect the same.

It is gratifying to note that the aim of the Mission, is to complete the construction within a period of 18 months. I trust that those given the onerous responsibility of constructing this new building, will deliver efficient and timely work so that its opening will help to expand the already cordial relations between Ghana and France.

I hereby wish you success as you start the construction work.

Thank you.