"Germany and Ghana have enjoyed very close and cordial relations for many years," said Chancellor Angela Merkel at a joint press conference with Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Earlier in the day, over a working lunch, the two heads of government discussed economic relations and development cooperation. They also looked at the G20’s "Compact with Africa" and at regional issues in West Africa.

Ghana a role model for the region

"We very much appreciate the part played by Ghana as a role model for the region," Angela Merkel continued. The West African state has already achieved a great deal in terms of fostering regional integration and stability in Africa. There is still much to be done, however.

The German government will continue to support Ghana along the road to successful economic policy. "We are delighted to see that Ghana’s economic trends look significantly better again than they did only a short time ago," said Angela Merkel.

Ghana has set itself the goal "Ghana beyond aid", and intends to pursue its own agenda independently. "Our support is designed to develop Ghana’s own capacities," stressed the Chancellor.

Ghana is a member of the "Compact with Africa"

Ghana is a member of the "Compact with Africa", an initiative launched under Germany’s G20 Presidency. Last June it attended the G20 Africa Partnership Conference in Berlin. The initiative aims to enhance the framework for private investment, thus creating more jobs in Africa.

Parallel to this, the German government has entered into a bilateral partnership for reform with Ghana, which focuses on the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. "We are providing 100 million euros to support Ghana within the framework of this partnership for reform," stressed the Chancellor.

In response to the German "Compact with Africa" initiative, the G20 have devised investment partnerships for pro-reform African states – also on board are the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank. Germany has already agreed on investment partnerships with the Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Tunisia. All three partnerships for reform aim to develop the use of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency and develop the financial and banking sector.

Sustainably strengthen health systems

The Chancellor and President Akufo-Addo agreed to push ahead with cooperation in the global health sector. "We will be asking the WHO’s Director-General to disseminate measures that serve to achieve the 2030 Agenda’s health-related goals. A conference on this matter will be held in autumn this year in Germany," Angela Merkel announced.

Within the framework of the special programme on "Health in Africa", African partner countries are to receive support from Germany that will sustainably strengthen their health systems and enable them to respond more effectively to crises. The regional focus is on West African states that were directly affected by the Ebola outbreak, neighbouring states, and countries with weak health systems.

Opening up legal opportunities for young people

The two heads of government also discussed illegal migration. The repatriation of illegal migrants from Ghana is to be stepped up. "We are counting on voluntary repatriation rather than forced repatriation. But in return we want to open up the opportunities for more young people from Ghana to study or train in Germany," said the Chancellor.

Two and a half months ago, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier opened a migration centre when he visited Ghana.

Threat posed by jihadist movement

Another item on the agenda was security in West Africa. "We are very concerned about the threat posed by the jihadist movement in the Sahel," said President Akufo-Addo. The G5 Sahel states (Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mauritania) are just north of Ghana. "Germany has supported us very well and has also supported the G5 states of the Sahel Zone in their efforts to tackle the jihadist movement," continued the President. He expressed his delight that the Chancellor has pledged further support on this matter.