Ghana and Germany pledge to deepen trade, investment and security relations

The Republic of Ghana and the Federal Republic of Germany, Ghana’s European partner, have pledged to deepen the already strong relations between them in the areas of trade, investment and security.

The leaders of the two countries, President Akufo-Addo of Ghana and the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, made this commitment when they met today (Tuesday 31 October 2023) at the seat of Ghana’s presidency, Jubilee House.

Chancellor Scholz is in Ghana as part of a three-nation tour of the West Africa region. Apart from his two-day visit to Ghana, the German leader has also visited Benin and Nigeria.

While at Jubilee House, Chancellor Scholz and his delegation met and held bilateral discussions with President Akufo-Addo and other high-ranking officials of the Akufo-Addo government, after a tête-à-tête meeting between the two leaders.

President Akufo-Addo and Chancellor Scholz also led the delegations to meet business leaders from German and Ghana with the aim of fostering synergies between German and Ghanaian businesses.

After the meetings and photo opportunities, the two leaders held a joint press conference. President Akufo-Addo subsequently held a state lunch to honour the visiting German leader.

Economic recovery

In his speech to propose a toast at the state banquet, President Akufo-Addo registered his appreciation to the German Chancellor for choosing Ghana as one of three countries he is visiting during his tour of West Africa.

He noted that it is an honour for Ghana to have had two successive German chancellors visit the country during his tenure as President of the Republic.

Akufo-Addo recounted the strong economic and trade ties between Ghana and Germany, which he says are manifesting through the number of German companies which have established affiliates in Ghana or have expressed the desire to do so.

An example of a recently established German company in Ghana, President Akufo-Addo said, is Volkswagen (VW), which has opened an assembly plant in Ghana.

“We will continue to create and maintain a conducive investment atmosphere that will not only guarantee the safety of their investments, but good returns on investments as well,” President Akufo-Addo said.

“We in Ghana are determined to see the rebound of our economy, which has been ravaged like all nations by the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” the president said.

“That is why our focus is to continue to build a value-added, industrialised economy with a modernised agriculture, which will enable us to reach our destination of ‘Ghana beyond aid’. I am happy that our relations with Germany are now being focused on an increase in trade and investment co-operation,” he said.

Terrorism

On the fight against terrorism, violent extremism and other socio-economic challenges bedevilling Ghana and the rest of the African continent, President Akufo-Addo said that Ghana, and the rest of Africa, for that matter, are determined to win the fight.

“[We] will continue to collaborate with the Federal Republic of Germany at the bilateral and multilateral levels in finding solutions to challenges such as widespread poverty, irregular migration, insecurity and human rights violations, terrorism, violent extremism, human and drug trafficking, piracy as well as climate change and its attendant impact on the environment and livelihoods,” President Akufo-Addo said.

Chancellor Scholz

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in a brief statement delivered in English before reverting to his mother tongue, said it is his first time in Ghana and he is delighted to be visiting.

He said he looks forward to developing a strong bond of friendship between Ghana and Germany, beyond the current state of relations between the two countries.

“It is a pleasure for me to visit your country and to engage with you and your government in talks on subjects of common interest.

“It is my first time in Ghana and I look forward to experiencing the beauty and generosity of Ghana,” Chancellor Scholz said.

Reporting by Wilberforce Asare in Accra