Presidents John Mahama and Frank-Walter Steinmeier in a handshake at the Jubilee House
Germany will commit over €65 million (approximately GH¢820 million) in new development assistance to Ghana pending approval by the German Bundestag.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who announced this during a three-day state visit to Ghana, said the financial commitment underscores its longstanding partnership with Ghana for over fifty years since independence.
According to the German leader, the details of the package which will be finalised by the end of this month will focus on education, renewable energy, youth employment and technical skills training.
“We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of development cooperation between Ghana and Germany. Together, we are laying the foundation for sustainable economic development that will benefit both countries,” he stated.
“Our trade volume has grown by more than a quarter to €626 million last year,” he said. “But there is much more potential that remains untapped,” he added.
He also mentioned Germany’s growing interest in supporting Ghana’s energy transition, especially in enhancing energy efficiency and expanding renewable power sources to drive sustainable growth.
The German President commended Ghanaians for their skills, workforce and political stability as key advantages that make the country an ideal partner for trade and investment.
President John Dramani Mahama also reiterated his call for Africa to be granted permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council, describing the current situation as a “historical injustice” that must be corrected.
“This injustice must be corrected, Africa demands at least two permanent seats with veto power and additional non-permanent seats, as stated in the Ezulwini Consensus,” he stressed.
While commending Germany for supporting UN Security Council reform and for advocating Africa’s rightful place in global governance, President Mahama also cautioned against the rise of economic nationalism which, in his view, threatens global progress under the rules-based multilateral order.
“The dismantling of established multilateral frameworks and the rise of protectionism could plunge the world into instability and inequality. We must resist these tendencies and reform, we need not to abandon the institutions that unite us. The challenges of our era require collective action, dialogue, and compromise,” President Mahama said.
The German President also supported President Mahama’s demand for two permanent seat at the UN and non-permanent seats for Africa on the Security Council,
“This position was reaffirmed by the foreign ministers of Germany, Brazil, India, and Japan at the UN General Assembly this year,” Steinmeier said.
“We both agree that cross-border challenges such as terrorism, organised crime, and climate change require cross-border solutions, Germany, together with the European Union, continues to support Ghana’s efforts to create long-term stability and development, particularly in its northern border regions,” he added.
President Mahama also reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to multilateralism, peace, and sustainable global partnerships to tackle terrorism, migration, and poverty among others, while thanking Germany for its continuous support to Ghana over the years.
President Mahama further lauded ongoing cooperation between Ghana’s Ministry of Labour and leading German firms to enhance Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
He said an upcoming labour mobility agreement would allow young Ghanaians to take up structured employment in Germany to help create opportunities for the youth, while helping Germany meet its skilled labour.
“We are making tangible progress on our agenda,” he said. “Ghana remains committed to creating an enabling environment to attract German private sector investment, particularly within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).”
Spokesperson to the President, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, in a statement, said the three-day visit by the German President, which started on Sunday, November 2 will end today, Tuesday, November 4.
He said discussions between the two have focused on Ghana-Germany relations, particularly areas of trade, investment, technology and development cooperation.
According to him, as part of the visit, the German President will be conducted on a guided tour of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, where he will lay a wreath at the tomb of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
The German President will also engage young Ghanaian IT specialists before attending a reception at the German Ambassador’s residence. Mr. Steinmeier will later travel to Kumasi on the third day of his visit, where he will perform a sod-cutting ceremony at the Kumasi Technical Institute, visit and interact with the Vice-Chancellor, staff and alumni of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah