Accra, July 18, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday granted audience to the French Minister for Public Service, Mr Christian Jacob, who is in the country to sign partnership agreements between France and Ghana.

The agreements are for the training and re-organisation of the public service and support for Ghana's decentralization programme. President Kufuor acknowledged the French Government's assistance to Ghana for the past six years, citing, funding for the Citizens Identification Project, support for agriculture, culture and Ghana becoming multi-lingual.

In addition, France had consulted the Government of Ghana on matters affecting neighbouring countries such as the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire.

President Kufuor expressed appreciation for the project to train Civil Servants, noting that, when the public service was firmly in place and conditioned to support private sector growth, the socio-economic vision would be achieved.

Mr Jacob who conveyed special greetings from French President Jacque Chirac to President Kufuor said the two countries were good partners. 18 July 06