A high-level delegation of German university leaders has arrived in Accra as part of efforts to strengthen academic cooperation and deepen strategic ties between Germany and West Africa.
At a press briefing held at the residence of the German Ambassador to Ghana, H.E Frederik Landshöft underscored the growing importance of education partnerships between the two countries, describing Ghana as a key hub for academic excellence in the region.
He indicated that the two countries have secured and managed 69 university partnerships that have led to the establishment of a number of initiatives that are set to enhance way of life. “Gernany and Ghana are connected through one of the most dynamic academic networks in Africa – Europe cooperation. Building a long-term trust in institutional commitment. Our cooperation is also tangible beyond universities. Currently, six major German-Ghanaians scientific cooperation projects are underway, addressing global challenges such as health, climate, agriculture and digital transformation.”
Secretary General of DAAD, Kai Sicks, emphasised that academic cooperation remains central to Germany’s global engagement strategy. He noted that the “DAAD has connected with Ghana together with Ghanaian universities for 25 years now and we are in these times trying to strategically prioritize collaborations between Germany and its Ghanaian partners.”
He further highlighted the increasing number of Ghanaian students studying in Germany, which has more than doubled since 2020, alongside a significant rise in institutional partnerships.
Academic Speaker of the delegation, Juliane Winkelmann, highlighted the importance of people-to-people connections in sustaining these partnerships. She shared optimistic sentiments ahead of the coming days from the thrilling experience at the University of Ghana. She revealed that “there is a lot of common interests and enthusiasm about future projects. What we have in common is the investigation in the young generation and to train and educate our young generation.”
Speaking in her capacity as an official from the Technical University of Munich, Madam Winkelmann highlighted the already existing partnership between the institution and Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology – where the parternship of Innovation and Sustainable development was established. “Since 2018, we’ve had a very strong partnership between the Technical University of Munich and the KNUST in Kumasi. In 2018, we founded the partnership of Innovation and Sustainable Development and we have more than 25 common research projects together – ranging from land managing, health science, how to combat climate change, health science, architecture and entrepreneurship.”
She added that the delegation’s visit is not only to engage in dialogue but to translate discussions into tangible outcomes.
“The aim of this visit is to move beyond dialogue and translate our engagements into concrete cooperation projects that will have lasting impact,” she stated.
Key messages outlined to the media during the briefing highlighted that Ghana and Germany’s partnership in higher education continues to expand, with growing collaboration across fields such as public health, energy, agriculture, climate research, and digital innovation.
The engagement also reinforced the role of academic exchange in fostering innovation, strengthening institutions, and building trust between both countries, as stakeholders work towards long-term, sustainable development through education.
The visit, organised by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), forms part of its Higher Education Policy Information Visit, bringing together 21 presidents, vice-presidents, and chancellors of German universities.
