Germany has pledged to provide Ghana with more than €65 million (approximately GH¢823 million) in development cooperation support this year, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and advancing shared goals in sustainable growth, energy transition, and youth employment.
The announcement was made by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during a joint press conference with President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House in Accra on Monday, following extensive bilateral discussions between the two leaders.
President Steinmeier’s pledge — which is subject to approval by the German Bundestag (Parliament) — comes as both nations explore new avenues for collaboration in the areas of renewable energy, digital transformation, technical and vocational training, and healthcare.
The details of the support package are expected to be finalised later this month.
The German leader, who arrived in Accra on Sunday evening for a three-day state visit, described Ghana as one of Germany’s most reliable partners in Africa and an important hub for trade and investment in the region.
Germany deepens economic and technical cooperation
President Steinmeier noted that Germany’s new package of support will focus heavily on job creation, vocational training, and youth development, particularly in strategic growth sectors such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and the digital economy.
“We are actively involved in training the younger generation — something that was particularly important in our discussion — to help them find good jobs, for instance, in the health sector, the pharmaceutical industry, and the digital economy,” he said.
He also highlighted ongoing cooperation in energy efficiency and renewable energy expansion, adding that the two nations had agreed to institute regular high-level political consultations to strengthen collaboration on bilateral, regional, and international issues.
“This reflects our shared goal of expanding our dialogue and cooperation with key partners like Ghana and doing so in a more strategic and sustainable way,” the German President said.
President Steinmeier emphasised that Ghana’s economic resilience and democratic stability had made it an increasingly attractive destination for German investors.
With trade between the two countries increasing by more than a quarter last year to reach €626 million (about GH¢8.3 billion), both leaders agreed to pursue greater private sector engagement and more diversified trade opportunities.
He disclosed that members of his business delegation included representatives from infrastructure, construction, high-tech industries, and medical engineering, who were in Ghana to explore potential partnerships and investments.
“Ghana offers many advantages that are not found everywhere in Africa — a well-educated population, English as the working language, and a minimal time difference with Europe. Together, these create ideal conditions for investment,” he stated.
Focus on vocational training and healthcare
The German President also underscored the growing importance of education, science, and research in Ghana-Germany relations.
During his trip to Kumasi on Tuesday, President Steinmeier is expected to break ground for the expansion of a vocational training centre, where new skills programmes will begin next year with German funding and technical support.
He revealed plans for the establishment of a nursing school near Kumasi, which will train 200 nurses annually for Ghana’s healthcare system starting next year — another German-funded initiative aimed at addressing Ghana’s healthcare workforce gap.
“This underscores how essential academic and professional exchange has become for our bilateral relations,” he added.
Mahama reaffirms Ghana’s commitment to stronger ties
For his part, President John Dramani Mahama described the visit as a significant milestone in the enduring relationship between Ghana and Germany, adding that the partnership had evolved steadily since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1957.
He said Germany had remained a steadfast and reliable partner, supporting Ghana through technical and financial cooperation in critical sectors such as health, education, renewable energy, vocational training, good governance, and peacekeeping.
“These interventions have contributed immensely to institutional development, youth empowerment, and sustainable growth,” he said.
President Mahama briefed his counterpart on Ghana’s Resetting Ghana Agenda, an initiative focused on restoring macroeconomic stability, fostering inclusive growth, and rebuilding investor confidence.
“I reaffirmed Ghana’s strong dedication to creating an enabling environment to attract more German private sector investment, particularly within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), headquartered here in Accra,” President Mahama noted.
He added that the AfCFTA offered unparalleled opportunities for German and other investors to tap into a continental market of over 1.3 billion people, positioning Ghana as the strategic gateway for entry into Africa’s fast-growing economies.
Shared goals in sustainability, energy, and peace
The two leaders identified new areas of collaboration, including renewable energy, green industrialisation, digital transformation, and skills development — all key to advancing sustainable growth and addressing youth unemployment in Ghana.
President Mahama also welcomed Germany’s forward-looking Africa strategy, which prioritises sustainability, gender equality, decent employment, and peace and security.
On regional stability, he commended Germany’s principled support for peace and development in West Africa and briefed his guest on Ghana’s efforts to promote dialogue and cooperation among its neighbours, including his appointment of a Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahelian States.
President Steinmeier, for his part, reiterated Germany’s continued backing of the Accra Initiative, which aims to prevent terrorism spillover from the Sahel and to counter transnational organised crime and violent extremism in the sub-region.
Looking ahead
As the visit progresses, both leaders are expected to hold additional engagements with German business leaders, Ghanaian entrepreneurs, and youth innovators to further explore investment partnerships and educational exchange programmes.
The commitments made during the visit — from vocational training and healthcare investment to trade expansion and renewable energy cooperation — reflect a deepening bond between Ghana and Germany, grounded in mutual respect, democratic values, and a shared vision for sustainable development.
President Mahama summarised the spirit of the renewed partnership, stating: “We reaffirmed the strong bonds of friendship between our two countries — bonds rooted in mutual respect, shared democratic values, human rights, the rule of law, and a common vision for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.”
