The German-Ghanaian bilateral development cooperation uses available instruments such as concessionary loans and grants, capacity building and technical assistance, as well as development partnerships with private actors (PPPs). The bilateral development cooperation is thus being implemented in Ghana by the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW Development Bank) and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), in collaboration with the Ghanaian partners.
Ghana is also supported by multilateral institutions (World Bank, African Development Bank), which are also funded by the German Federal Government. Also, funds from the German Federal Government are channeled through the European Union into development cooperation with Ghana.
The major framework for cooperation with Ghana is the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, the Ghanaian Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA) provides the basis for our cooperation. Germany actively supports the international effectiveness agenda (development effectiveness) and sees itself as part of the aid architecture worldwide and in Ghana.
Ghana is one of the partner countries for development cooperation, with which Germany works closely together on the basis of intergovernmental agreements. The next intergovernmental negotiations on bilateral development cooperation with Ghana will take place in 2018.
Since the start of bilateral relations with Ghana in 1957, Germany has allocated over € 1.5 billion to sustainable development in the country. From 2015 to 2017, bilateral support for Ghana amounts to € 141.1 million.
Focal areas of the German development cooperation with Ghana
Against the background of Ghana's status as a “lower middle income country” and the existing challenges and in line with the priorities of the Ghanaian government, the German bilateral development cooperation focuses on the following three priorities:
- Agriculture: Sustainable increase in the competitiveness and market orientation of the agricultural sector, especially with focus on value chains;
- Sustainable economic development (including vocational training): supporting the reform of the TVET sector and improving access to financial services;
- Good governance / decentralization: increasing tax revenues and strengthening domestic accountability, promoting participation in local decision-making, improving living conditions through effective local governments.
In addition, German bilateral development cooperation is also selectively involved in the sectors of renewable energies and energy efficiency, and in particular recycling of electronic waste.
Furthermore many German non-state organizations, such as political foundations, churches and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are active in the area of non-governmental development cooperation in Ghana. Germany directly supports Ghanaian non-governmental organizations via micro Projects.