French President Commends Ghana, ...As Ambassador Svanikier Presents Credentials

The French President François Hollande has praised Ghana for her strides in economic growth and democratic practice, saying Ghana’s achievements in those areas in African are worth emulating.

He has therefore, assured of France’s continued support towards enhancing Ghana’s democracy good governance and economic development.

Ambassador Johanna Odonkor Svanikier,
with President François Hollande
at the Élysée Palace in Paris during the event

President Hollande said this during an interaction with Ghana’s Ambassador to France Mrs. Johanna Odonkor Svanikier, at the Élysée presidential palace in Paris last Friday. The decision which focused on bilateral relations between the two countries and political developments in West Africa, was held after the ambassador, who is also Ghana’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO and the International Organisation of La Francophonie, presented her Letters of Credence to the French President at a brief colourful ceremony at the palace.

President Hollande Ghana’s said democratic credentials had earned it an enormous prestige and respect around the world, and urged the government, political parties, civil society groups and all stakeholders to continue to work together in protection that nation’s remarkable democratic status.

He lauded Ghana’s immense contribution towards regional peace and development, as well as health and the fight against Ebola.

President Hollande commended President John Mahama for his leadership role in the sub-region, and pledged Fance’s renewed support and partnership with Ghana.

He commended Mrs. Svanikier on her achievement as the new ambassador to France and wished her a successful tour of duty tour, adding that the French government would offer her the necessary assistance and cooperation to ensure that she succeeds in strengthening the ties between the two countries.

Ambassador Svanikier thanked President Hollande for receiving her, and expressed her appreciation for the good relationship that exists between the two countries, and pledged to promote economic diplomacy in support of Ghana’s development drive.

She assured her host of her unwavering commitment to the further enhancement of the political, economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

The new Ambassador informed President Hollande that as Chairman of ECOWAS, President John Dramani Mahama had recently visited the three Ebola afflicted countries to pledge the solidarity of member states and to deliver the much needed relief supplies. She explained further that, Ghana had become a coordinating centre for delivering relief items to the affected countries.

On governance in West Africa, she explained that President Mahama had led ECOWAS demand compliance with the principles of democracy and constitutional governance in Burkina Faso, towards achieving peace in that country after the recent ousting of President Blaise Campaore.

Mrs. Svanikier, who was recently appointed by President Mahama, holds a Master’s Degrees in law from the London School of Economics, UK, a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University, U.S.A. and a Masters in Political Science and International Relations Research from the University of Oxford, U.K.  She was a Fulbright Scholar at Harvard University and was called to the Bar in England and Wales in 1991 and in Ghana in 1992. 

She has worked as a barrister, a university lecturer and a legal and development consultant.

She is a former leacturer at the University of Ghana and a Commissioner at the National Development Planning Commission until her appointment.

She is the author of several publications including "Womens' Rights and the Law in Ghana."

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Economic Challenges Not Peculiar to Ghana--World Bank

By Edmund Mingle

The World Bank says the economic challenges facing Ghana are not peculiar to the country.

According to World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, the current economic difficulty is a global economic phenomenon which many countries were dealing with.

Mr. Yong Kim (left) and Vice President Amissah-Arthur
after their meeting in Accra

Addressing a news conference with Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur at the Flagstaff House in Accra on Thursday during his visit to Ghana to announce the bank’s additional 100million dollar package to aid the fight against the Ebola disease, Mr. Kim described the current global economic phenomenon affecting Ghana as “complex.”

“My view of the situation in Ghana is that there is the need for fiscal consolidation while at the same time government needs to investments so that the economy can grow.

“This is a challenge that many economies in the world, including in Europe, are facing, so this is not unique to Ghana,” he said, and lauded the remedial measures being pursued by the government.

To assist in addressing the challenge in Ghana, he said the bank was providing intensive support to the country citing the bank’s assistance on the Ghana infrastructure facility “where we are trying to ensure that investments in growth enhancing infrastructure continue to be made while necessary fiscal consolidation also happens.

He said the solution was complex, but possible to work for Ghana.

He said the bank would continue to work extremely closely with Ghana, and in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help in addressing the economic challenges the country was confronting.

“We are not going to take our eye off the ball in terms of supporting the Ghanaian economy, especially because of the sacrifices, and the generosity of the Ghanaian people in the middle of this Ebola crisis,” he said.

Ghana is currently negotiating financial and technical assistance from the IMF.

The government is aiming to secure about 800million dollars cash from the Fund to effectively stabilise the economy, and push it on the path of growth.