President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana has been awarded the esteemed title of Grand Officier de la Légion d’Honneur by French President Emmanuel Macron in recognition of his significant role in advancing relations between Ghana and France.
The award, one of the highest distinctions within France’s Légion d’Honneur—an honor instituted in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte to recognize exemplary military and civil service—was presented at a ceremony in Paris following a working lunch between the two leaders.
President Akufo-Addo was lauded for his contributions to strengthening Ghana-France cooperation across critical areas, including economic development, climate action, education, and cultural exchange. Under his leadership, relations between Ghana and France—historically less prominent than with Francophone nations in West Africa—have seen considerable progress, particularly following his state visit to France in 2017.
The two nations have since collaborated on key West African security and political issues, engaging on the United Nations Security Council, where Ghana has been a non-permanent member since January 2022. Their joint efforts have addressed pressing matters such as the repercussions of the Ukraine conflict on the region.
Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo conferred with “Grand Officier de la Légion d’Honneur” title by French President Macron
France and Ghana consult one another on West African security and political issues. pic.twitter.com/WweIpLIDvL
— The Feather Post (@PostFeather) November 14, 2024
President Akufo-Addo’s diplomatic engagements with France have been extensive. He attended the opening of the French Embassy in Accra in January 2021 alongside then-French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, visited Paris in November 2021 for the Paris Peace Forum, and joined Macron and European Council President Charles Michel to announce France’s counter-terrorism reorganization in West Africa as ECOWAS chair. Additionally, in October 2022, he received an honorary doctorate from Paris-Panthéon Sorbonne University, underscoring the deepening relationship between the two countries.
Further illustrating the growing economic ties, over 70 French companies operate in Ghana, with an investment stock of €1.3 billion, making Ghana the seventh-largest recipient of French direct investment in Africa. Notable projects include Bolloré’s partnership with Maersk on the Tema seaport expansion.
The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has also made significant contributions, supporting energy and infrastructure projects, such as the Kumasi-Bolgatanga electrical line, and funding sustainable development initiatives that benefit Ghanaian communities and SMEs.
President Akufo-Addo’s collaboration with France continues to foster robust partnerships, and this Grand Officier de la Légion d’Honneur award symbolizes the respect and recognition from France for his commitment to enhancing Ghana’s global relations.
