Under the theme “I Educate Myself Therefore I Act,” Ghana marked the 55th anniversary of the Organization International de La Francophonie (OIF) on Thursday, March 20, 2025, with a flag-raising and tree-planning event held in the State House’s forecourt.
Speaking to the audience, the honored guest, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs, said he was thrilled to be hosting Ghana’s La Francophonie Day celebration as a full member of the OIF.
He remembered the process by which Ghana joined the group in 2006 and became a full member in 2024.
He sent his sincere appreciation to Ambassador Thi Hoang Mai, the OIF’s representative for West Africa, her staff, and all OIF members and partners for their assistance throughout this period of transition.
He underscored the importance of Ghana’s geographical location, “as a country that is situated among Anglophone and Francophone Africa, Ghana recognizes the importance of bilingualism and cross-cultural collaboration, thus the decision to seek full membership of the OIF was, driven by Ghana’s strong historical, political, and economic connections to her Francophone neighbours, especially Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Togo, as well as the larger French-speaking world.”
He added that the decision was motivated by the desire to improve diplomatic cooperation, create opportunities for cultural and educational collaboration, bridge the cultural divide, open up new trade and investment opportunities, and foster interpersonal relationships both within and outside of the African continent.
According to him, this choice was entirely in line with His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama’s goal of using Ghanaian diplomacy to further regional integration, good neighborliness, Ghana’s interests internationally, and make sure that our foreign policy supports our national development agenda.
“Ghana is eager to contribute to regional peace and stability by promoting the shared values of democracy, human rights, cultural diversity, and sustainable development,” he said, restating Ghana’s commitment to fostering bridges between Anglophone and Francophone people.
Speaking about the significance of this year’s celebration theme, “I educate myself, therefore I act,” he emphasized the vital role that education plays in a world that is continuously changing due to factors like social injustice, economic inequality, climate change, global health crises, and technological disparities.
Furthermore, it served as a reminder to developing nations like Ghana that inclusive development that ensures the prosperity and well-being of its people depends on having access to high-quality education.
The Hon. Minister concluded by reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to La Francophonie’s ideals and its goals for a just, equitable, and inclusive world, and expressing the hope that Ghana’s full participation in the OIF will aid in peacebuilding and reconciliation within the organization.
In his speech, Lebanese Ambassador to Ghana H. E. Maher Kheir, who is also the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and President of the La Francophonie Ambassador’s Group, congratulated Ghana on achieving full membership in the Organization de La Francophonie (OIF) and stressed the importance of bilingualism in improving Ghana’s educational, diplomatic, and economic opportunities.
In addition to praising the Ministry of Education for its efforts to implement bilingual education in Ghanaian schools nationwide, he had the vision that these efforts would produce a new generation of young Ghanaians who would be fiercely competitive in the labor market in the years to come.
Using the occasion, he invited the group to take part in the Francophone Festival, which will take place from March 22 to April 13, 2025, and offer a variety of experiences in the francophone world, including music, poetry, theater, cinema, and gastronomy. He also encouraged the group to have meaningful conversations about how to work together to create a future that is innovative, collaborative, and prosperous for all.
He mentioned that “as we celebrate La Francophonie today, we honor not only the French language but also the incredible cultural diversity it brings together, creating a space where differences are not barriers but bridges; where dialogue, understanding, and cooperation thrived across continents”
The ceremony’s high point was the raising of the Ghanaian and OIF flags and a tree-planting exercise, which was attended by Osu-Alata Mantse, Nii Kobina Bonney, the chairperson of the parliamentary select committee on foreign affairs, Hon. Oko Vanderpuye, and the minister of education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu.
The others included government officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps, senior officials, representatives of the security forces, a few chosen educational institutions, and media outlets.
Source: newsthemegh.com