By RFIPosted on 11-07-2019Modified on 11-07-2019 at 18:37

This Thursday, the French president, Emmanuel Macron received at the Élysée his Ghanaian counterpart, Nana Akufo-Addo. On this occasion, some 400 personalities from African diasporas were invited for two hours of questions and answers. A debate where the economy has had a large place.

It had been more than a year since the Élysée was working on this meeting. Originally, this exchange was to be organized to mark the anniversary of the speech of Emmanuel Macron in Ouagadougou , so in November 2018. But it had been postponed, probably time to find the right interlocutor with whom the French president was going to dialogue . It was necessary to find a strong African referent and it was the Ghanaian president who was chosen.

During these exchanges, mainly in English , the two presidents insisted on the dynamism of the exchanges and on the role of ambassador of the diaspora. " Diasporas have a vital role. First of all because I think that we did not work enough with our own diasporas and saw how lucky it was. And when we want to work with all the countries of Africa and say that we want to rethink this partnership, remake it differently, our diasporas are a great lever. Because they know the codes, they have access and they are our best ambassadors and the best way in terms of culture, economically, sporting, politically to say how France and Europe can work better with Africa, "said President Macron in the preamble.

A message that Emmanuel Macron also wanted to address to youth: " The African youth, we must offer a future in Africa ." Then the two presidents talked a lot about Nigeria, the driving force of the continent: " If Nigeria fails, the whole region fails. If Nigeria succeeds, it will carry the whole region. "

" No Santa Claus "

Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo, for her part, reminded Africans of Africa's responsibility for the development of the continent: " We must change the story of Santa Claus who will come to develop the continent. Only we can develop our continent. There is no Santa Claus. Once this mentality becomes ours, it changes the look and the relations with France, with Europe. "

The questions during this exchange focused mainly on economic concerns. The subjects who are angry have not really been addressed, the words " governance ", " human rights " and " corruption " were not pronounced, at this meeting the tone very different from that adopted at the University of Ouagadougou, where the French president had exchanged mainly with committed students. This time, stakeholders were hand-picked with a majority of executives and business leaders.

An audience that was a little hungry when the Ghanaian president, waiting for other commitments, had to leave the room. But President Macron has already set several other appointments: the cultural season "Africa 2020" and the summit Africa - France planned in Bordeaux in one year.

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