Germany and Ghana strengthened their long-standing partnership with the successful conclusion of the 2025 Government Negotiations on development cooperation, held on Monday in Accra.
The high-level talks provided a platform to review past achievements, coordinate future projects, and align shared priorities in sustainable growth, industrialisation, and economic reforms.
The negotiations brought together senior officials from both governments. Ghana’s delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Finance Thomas Nyarko Ampem, with Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson signing the protocol of the negotiations. Other key attendees included Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition Richard Gyan-Mensah, and Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Ahmed Ibrahim.
German Ambassador to Ghana Frederik Landshöft opened the session, stressing that Germany views development cooperation as a partnership built on mutual interest rather than aid. He emphasized that both nations are investing in youth empowerment, innovation, green growth, and building a resilient economic future.
Christoph Rauh, Director for Africa at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), highlighted Germany’s long-standing and trusted collaboration with Ghana, noting that their support extends across economic reforms, private sector development, and regional stability.
The negotiations also provided an opportunity to celebrate Ghana’s recent successes under its reform agenda. Ghana has seen significant progress in renewable energy adoption, expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes, and steady growth in industrial and digital sectors. These developments underscore the value of ongoing partnerships with Germany and other international collaborators.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu recalled President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s state visit in November 2025 as a turning point for cooperation, particularly in security and governance. He extended an invitation for future high-level German delegations to address Ghana’s Parliament, reflecting the country’s commitment to transparency and strengthened diplomatic engagement.
Deputy Finance Minister Ampem highlighted Ghana’s appreciation for Germany’s support in climate and energy initiatives, education, local governance, and private sector development, all central to Ghana’s long-term reform agenda.
Delivering the keynote address, Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare emphasized Ghana’s pursuit of industrialisation as the most effective path for inclusive economic transformation. She called for a decisive shift from raw commodity exports to value-added production, insisting that “Ghanaian resources must benefit the Ghanaian people.”
Ambassador Landshöft identified five sectors where Germany sees immediate opportunities for deeper engagement: energy and infrastructure, manufacturing and industrialisation, digital technology, the circular economy, and agriculture and food processing. He described Ghana as a potential gateway to West Africa, offering early investors a strategic advantage in shaping regional markets.
Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) CEO Simon Madjie highlighted reforms aimed at boosting investor confidence, including updates to the GIPC Act, revisions to minimum capital requirements, and enhanced investor protections. He invited German businesses to partner with Ghana in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, digital trade, and the government’s 24-hour economy initiative. Madjie also shared ongoing efforts to modernize technology transfer regulations, particularly in pharmaceuticals, to attract high-level collaborations with Ghanaian firms.
The Government Negotiations concluded with both sides committing to concrete investment pathways under Ghana’s industrialisation agenda and Germany’s global economic strategy, reinforcing a partnership poised to deliver tangible results in 2025 and beyond
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