The German Embassy in Accra recently celebrated German Unity Day with a festive reception at the Ambassador's residence, featuring music, dance, and art. The event was attended by Ghanaian Defence Minister Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Education Minister Hon. Harouna Iddrisu, and Minority Leader Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, as well as members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders, and traditional authorities. The reception was a departure from the usual formal diplomatic events, with a focus on showcasing Ghanaian culture and promoting unity and partnership between Germany and Ghana.
German Unity Day is observed annually on October 3rd, marking the reunification of Germany in 1990. Ambassador Landshöft used the occasion to draw a parallel between Germany's experience and Ghana's own diverse society. He emphasized that unity does not mean being the same, but rather staying together while being different. This message resonated with Ghana's own experience of holding competitive elections and peaceful transfers of power, despite growing instability in the Sahel region.
The reception featured performances by the Universal Street Academy, the Patchbay Band, and Daakyehemaa, as well as highlife and hiplife star Okyeame Kwame. DopeNation also performed, turning the residence into a dance floor, with KiDi making a special appearance. Accra-based German artist Rebekka Macht showcased her work on care and our relationship with nature on the terrace. The event was a celebration of the partnership between Germany and Ghana, with a focus on people-to-people connections.
Germany and Ghana have a strong partnership, with several areas of cooperation, including security, investment and value creation, skills, and climate. The German Embassy listed these priorities, highlighting the importance of international cooperation and a rules-based order. The two countries are also committed to deepening their bilateral ties, with several concrete events planned, including the German-African Business Summit in Accra from November 23 to 25.
The German-African Business Summit is expected to bring together over 600 participants, including German companies operating across Africa, and will promote Ghana as a gateway to the continent. German President Steinmeier is also due to visit Ghana in November, less than a year after his state visit in November 2025. During his 2025 visit, President Steinmeier held talks with President John Mahama, visited Kumasi, and witnessed a business-association agreement between the Association of Ghana Industries and the Afrika-Verein.
Germany has also pledged €65 million for development cooperation with Ghana, subject to parliamentary approval. Additionally, Germany's Federal Minister of Defence and Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development are expected to visit Ghana later this year to deepen cooperation on integrated security and development. These visits and events highlight the growing partnership between Germany and Ghana, with a focus on economic development, security, and people-to-people connections.
As Ghana and Germany look to the future, there are several areas to watch, including the security dimension of their partnership. With the Defence Minister as the Government's representative at the reception, and a German defence minister expected in Accra, defence cooperation is likely to feature in talks alongside trade and development. The business agenda also raises questions about the value of summits and memoranda, and whether they will translate into jobs created, skills transferred, and Ghanaian firms integrated into supply chains.
Key points
- Germany and Ghana are strengthening their partnership in areas such as security, investment, and climate cooperation.
- The German-African Business Summit will take place in Accra from November 23 to 25, promoting Ghana as a gateway to Africa.
- German President Steinmeier is due to visit Ghana in November, following up on his state visit in November 2025.
