On Saturday, 26 September, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa met Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Johann Wadephul, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations and advancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Railway infrastructure and engineering emerged as a key priority, with Ghana seeking strategic partners to revamp its rail transport system. Ablakwa highlighted the importance of this sector, stating, “At the heart of our engagement was railway infrastructure and engineering as Ghana seeks strategic partners to revamp our rail transport.”
Economic cooperation was also on the agenda, with Ablakwa noting opportunities for German companies to expand operations in Ghana. “We also discussed economic cooperation, including opportunities for German companies to expand their operations in Ghana,” he said.
The ministers addressed migration and labour mobility, following up on negotiations for structured labour exchange programmes that would create legal pathways for skilled Ghanaian workers to access employment opportunities in Germany. Ablakwa said, “We exchanged views on migration and labour mobility, including a follow‑up of ongoing negotiations on developing structured labour exchange programmes to create legal pathways for skilled Ghanaian workers to access opportunities in Germany.”
On irregular migration, the two sides agreed that skills development, education and employment opportunities could help address underlying drivers. “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,” Ablakwa added.
Ablakwa also praised Germany’s engagement on Ghana’s reparatory justice agenda, particularly cooperation on the return and restitution of cultural properties and heritage. “I commended the German Government for its positive engagement on Ghana’s reparatory justice agenda, particularly cooperation on the return and restitution of cultural properties and heritage,” he said.
Dr Wadephul invited Ablakwa to undertake a working visit to Germany to conclude an implementation strategy for the matters discussed. “I thank Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul for the invitation to pay a working visit to Germany to conclude an implementation strategy for the important matters we discussed,” Ablakwa said.
The proposed visit is expected to advance discussions on railway development, labour mobility, economic cooperation, migration and cultural heritage, further deepening Ghana‑Germany ties.
