President John Mahama and his wife Lordina Mahama arrived in Paris Monday evening to a stimulating welcome at the VVIP Lounge of the Orly Airport in the French Capital.

Arrived at 17:45 hours local time, the president and his entourage was received by Mrs Marylise Lebranchu, Minister of State Reform, Decentralization and Civil Service. He later inspected a guard of honour before retiring into his hotel.

President Mahama is undertaking a three-day official visit to the European country and would among other things hold bilateral discussions with leaders of that country.

The president would later on Tuesday visit the Elysee Palace, the French Presidency to hold talks with French President Francois Hollande.

Mr Mahama would also meet the French Development Minister, Pascal Canfin before visiting some important sites of the city.

On Wednesday, President Mahama will hold meetings with the African Diplomatic Corps and some organizations such as Societe Generale, Compaignie Fruitiere, Bollore, TOTAL, Credit Agricole among other Businesses in the French Capital.

He is also expected to visit the French Institute of International Relations to deliver a lecture on the theme, “Africa: New Opportunities, new political perspectives,” to crown his three-day official visit to France.

President Mahama and his wife were accompanied by Madam Hannah Tetteh, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Trade and Industry, Alhaji Baba Kamara, a Presidential Advisor, Mr Raymond Atuguba, Executive Secretary to the President and Felix Owusu Quakyi, Deputy Minister for Information and Media Relations.

Apart from the French government officials who were at the Airport to welcome the President and his delegation, about 20 African Ambassadors and dignitaries from the Ghanaian community in France also went to show their solidarity to the president.

There was drumming and dancing with most Ghanaians waving miniature Ghana flags and in typical Ghanaian apparel to demonstrate their excitement at his arrival.