Ghana and Germany have taken steps to deepen bilateral ties, focusing on railway infrastructure, legal pathways for skilled workers, and the return of looted cultural artifacts.
The move follows a high-level meeting between Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and his German counterpart, H.E. Dr. Johann Wadephul, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
At the center of the bilateral discussions was the overhaul of Ghana’s railway network, with the government actively seeking strategic international partners to modernise its transport sector.
In a statement following the meeting, Mr Ablakwa highlighted the key areas of engagement, noting that the dialogue aimed at strengthening economic ties and opening up new opportunities for both nations.
“Our discussions focused on deepening Ghana–Germany relations and advancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest. At the heart of our engagement was railway infrastructure and engineering as Ghana seeks strategic partners to revamp our rail transport,” Mr Ablakwa stated.
Beyond infrastructure, the two ministers explored economic expansion, particularly encouraging German companies to scale up their investments and presence in Ghana.
On migration, discussions centered on establishing structured labour exchange programmes. The proposed frameworks aim to create legal, regulated pathways for skilled Ghanaian professionals to access employment opportunities in Germany.
Addressing the challenge of irregular migration, both leaders agreed that sustainable solutions lie in tackling the root causes through targeted investments in education, technical skills training, and job creation.
“On irregular migration and the need to address its underlying drivers, we agreed that through skills development, education and employment opportunities we can resolve the causal factors,” the Foreign Minister added.
Mr Ablakwa praised the German government for its receptive stance regarding Ghana’s ongoing reparatory justice agenda. He acknowledged Berlin’s willingness to cooperate on the restitution and return of historical cultural properties and heritage taken during the colonial era.
The engagement concluded with an invitation from Minister Wadephul for Mr Ablakwa to pay an official working visit to Germany, where both sides are expected to finalise an implementation strategy for the agreements reached in New York.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana