German Chancellor Angela Merkel, will arrive in Ghana Today, August 30, for a day’s visit.
The visit forms part of her West African tour, with Berlin hoping that development of the continent will help stem migration and boost the fight against “jihadism”.
The push for closer economic ties is part of a wider bid to help stabilise African countries in the long run, offering youngsters opportunities at home in the hope of dissuading them from setting off for Europe.
Ghanaians, Senegalese and Nigerians are among the thousands of migrants trying their luck in Europe, even though their chances of winning asylum are slim. In July alone, nearly 950 Nigerians applied for asylum in Germany.
The visit underlines the strong and deepening partnership between Ghana and Germany. President Akufo-Addo had already met Chancellor Merkel on two occasions in Berlin in June 2017 and in February this year.
German President Steinmeier was also in Ghana for a state visit in December 2017. Her visit would focus on economic cooperation and on promoting investment and business in Ghana.
The visit would also be an opportunity to discuss and take stock of the G20 “Compact with Africa Initiative”, launched in June 2017 in Berlin under Germany´s G20 presidency.
The Compact with Africa aims at bringing more private investment to the 10 African partner countries, among which Ghana is a front runner. Germany was supporting Ghana through long-standing development cooperation programmes as well as a new bilateral “Investment and Reform Partnership” launched in December 2017.
The cooperation brings additional 100 million euros of German development funds to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency in Ghana, and to foster private investment into renewable energy as well as vocational training in the energy sector. The Reform and Investment Partnership supports Germany’s commitments under the G20 Compact with Africa.
Another highlight of German-Ghanaian relations would be the “German African Business Summit (GABS)” in Accra from February next year.
The GABS is the German signature business event in Africa. Top business and government leaders from Germany and Sub-Saharan Africa meet every two years in Africa to promote economic relations between Europe´s largest economy and the fastest growing region in the world.
The Chancellor will be accompanied by a high-ranking German business delegation to explore business and investment opportunities between the two countries.
As part of the visit, German Industry and Commerce in Ghana (AHK Ghana) will host a business dialogue to facilitate an exchange on the prevailing business environment in Ghana, a statement posted by the delegation of AHK Ghana on Wednesday indicated.
Ghana has enjoyed over 50 years of bilateral relations with Germany since her independence. The nature of bilateral relations between the two countries has gradually improved also.
The good relations between Ghana and Germany have led to beneficial ties in the areas of trade and investment, educational exchange programmes and socio-cultural activities.
The two nations have also maintained close and intensive political relations.
