Akufo-Addo mourns Jacques Chirac

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has sent a message of condolence to the Government and people of France on the death of former President Jacques Chirac.

Mr. Chirac died in Paris last Thursday.

He was 86.

President Akufo-Addo described Mr. Chirac as “a friend of Africa”.

He said bilateral relations between Ghana and France were considerably strengthened during Mr. Chirac’s tenure as President of France, and this has remained strong.

President Akufo-Addo noted that it was at the 11th Francophonie Summit in Bucharest, Romania, in September 2006, presided over by President Chirac, to which he led Ghana’s delegation as Foreign Minister, and at that summit Ghana became an Associate Member of La Francophonie, without first having to be made an Observer Member.

He said Ghana, an Anglophone nation, became one of a few countries that enjoy membership of both the Commonwealth and La Francophone.