President Akufo Addo has stated that Ghana is drawing inspirations from the European Economic Giant, Germany, to build a prosperous economy.

“We, in Ghana, are drawing inspiration from the success stories of North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany, because, likewise, we want to build a progressive and prosperous country”.
President Akufo Addo

The President made this known in a speech delivered in Dusseldorf, in the Federal Republic of Germany. This forms part of the 75^th anniversary celebrations of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s foremost industrial region and most populous state.

The President further highlighted Ghana’s commitment to walk hand-in-hand with North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany. This, according to him, is “because we desire to walk far, especially as we share attachments to common values of respect for individual liberties and human rights”. Also, the President noted that Ghana shares respect for the rule of law as well as respect for the principles of democratic accountability with Germany.

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According to President Akufo Addo, it is important for Ghana to increase trade and investment cooperation with German to boost Ghana’s speedy development and economic transformation.

Moreover, the President highlighted that increasing trade and investment co-operation is one sure way Ghana can develop healthy, economic relations with North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany and with the rest of the world. He stressed that this would help put Ghanaian products at the high end of the global value chain, and create jobs for the teeming youth of Ghanaians.

Establishment of a Volkswagen assembly plant

Meanwhile, President Akufo Addo lauded the recent establishment of a Volkswagen assembly plant in Accra, describing it as “a welcome development”.

“…We are encouraged by the fact that more and more German companies have expressed their willingness to set-up shops in Ghana”.
President Akufo Addo

The President further stated that Ghana and Germany must co-operate to ensure the promotion of transparent and inclusive policy. This is in addition to decision-making processes at local, national, regional, continental and global levels.

This would include, recognizing as key stakeholders, the State to help provide direction and facilitation; the private sector to drive the creation and management of markets, agriculture, industry and decent jobs; and civil society to help ensure accountability within the body politic.

The President reiterated his commitment to renewing and deepening relations with Germany, with North Rhine-Westphalia at the centre, “to our mutual advantage”.

“We do want to, and we shall work, to take Ghana to where she deserves to be, a prosperous and dynamic member of the world community, which is neither victim nor pawn of the world order”.
President Akufo Addo

President sympathizes with flood victims

The President used the occasion to sympathize with the people of North Rhine-Westphalia on the recent flooding tragedy that befell them.

Present at the event were the Minister-President for North Rhine-Westphalia, Armin Laschet, and Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Boitchway.

As part of activities lines up for his visit to that country, President Akufo will also address a ceremony at the North Rhine Westphalia Academy of International Politics in Bonn as the guest of honour.

The first Gentleman is in Germany for a State visit on the invitation of the German Chancelor, Angela Merkel. President Akufo-Addo is expected to return to Ghana on August 28, 2021.

Germany is one of Ghana’s most important development partners. The priority areas of development cooperation between the two countries are decentralization, promoting agriculture and sustainable economic development.