Producers of the Touch of France TV show have saved the best for last with the Season 1 finale set to star the President of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The exclusive interview, hosted by the French Ambassador to Ghana Her Excellency Anne-Sophie Avé, will be aired on GhOne, TV XYZ, Citi TV, and JoyPrime on Wednesday, July 14th – coinciding with the Bastille Day celebrations in France.

The bilateral ties between Ghana and France have deepened over the years as a result of the concerted effort and contributions aimed at the development of the West African country. Showcasing the diversity both countries share is crucial in strengthening the bonds, friendship, and cooperation that exist, and such has been the objective of the Touch of France TV talk show.

Since the first episode of Season 1, the informative cultural programme has chronicled the stories of Ghanaian celebrities who have lived in France or have experienced the French culture while living in Ghana. In an excerpt from the special episode shot at the Jubilee House – Ghana’s presidential palace in Accra – President Akufo-Addo recounts his experiences living and working in France after his tertiary education in England. Fluent in English and French, the former legislator worked in the Paris office of the U.S. law firm Coudert Brothers from 1971 to 1975.

“As a Ghanaian who was educated in England, I thought I should have experience of another European civilization before finally coming back to Ghana,” President Akufo-Addo stated.

“The Head of State at the time was my father, so it was a little bit of a way to escape from him,” he cheekily remarked.

Revealing how important it was to have the country’s commander in chief on her Touch of France TV show, French Ambassador Anne Sophie Avé explained:

“As soon as the idea of the show was born, I knew I wanted the President of the Republic of Ghana to share his experience of France on the show. I couldn’t hope for a better symbol of France-Ghana diplomatic, cultural, and business relations: respect and understanding.”

The special episode starring President Akufo-Addo will first air on Wednesday at 7:30 PM GMT on Citi TV and 8:00 PM GMT on TV XYZ, respectively. It will be shown at 8:30 PM GMT on GhOne TV and still be streamed live on the station’s Facebook page as well. Joy Prime will take the late broadcast at 9:00 PM GMT.

Aside the president, several notable public figures have been treated to insightful discourses with H.E. Anne-Sophie Avé since the premiere of the very first Touch of France episode in November 2020. The list includes Ghanaian football legend Abedi Pele, 1998 World Cup-winning defender Marcel Desailly, as well as Samia Nkrumah, Sarkodie, Anita Erskine, Becca, Claudia Lumor, Yvonne Okoro, Juliet Ibrahim and the programme’s co-executive producer Bola Ray. Touch of France Season 2 is set to air later this year and feature another set of distinguished Ghanaian personalities.

BY EMMANUEL KWABENA BUDU-ANNOR