Visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Nigeria and Ghana in West Africa, his third trip to Africa in two years, aimed at deepening economic ties between Germany and the two African nations.
Nigeria is struggling, with the value of its economy reportedly falling to $477 billion in 2022 from $546 billion in 2015.
During bilateral talks, Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, attracted investors to the country’s mining sector, which has been underdeveloped for decades. He also revealed conversations that had taken place with herGerman chancellor on gas export possibilities in Europe.
“THE [possibility of the] energy [sector] to facilitate the shipment of liquefied gas to Europe is discussed in advance. We have one eye on it,” Tinubu said.
German companies have aimed to boost their operations in Africa this year, especially in areas such as green hydrogen and liquefied natural gas.
Members of the German African Business Association also expressed their willingness to keep their spending levels in Africa steady.
Increasing investment in Africa
Chancellor Scholz echoed this. A key area for expected investment he mentioned: o energy sector. Scholz said Nigeria that one of the main parts of a cooperation between Berlin and Abuja would be “using your country’s economic opportunities”.
He said that among those opportunities were “gas and oil, which [are] traditionally associated with your country.”
As Europe’s largest economy, Germany has been seeking to reduce its dependence on Russia for natural gas since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and is eyeing the energy sector in Africa as a possible alternative.
In Ghana, West Africa’s second largest economy, Chancellor Scholz’s discussions with Ghana’s President Nana Akufo Addo focused on expanding economic relations in the areas of energy, agriculture and digitization.
Germany’s exports to Ghana in 2022 amounted to $314.77 million. Experts believe that there is a possibility of increasing trade volumes between the two countries in the coming years.
Some analysts consider Germany to be the leading supporter of the African Union and its activities. One reason for this is the work of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), which has many economic programs across the African continent.
Traces of German aid in Africa
African Affairs analyst Emmanuel Bensah told DW that Scholz’s visit will stabilize investment and allow Germany to maintain this kind of influence in Africa.
“I think we all know how much GIZ has supported over the last ten-plus years many engagements around the African Union, ECOWAS and many of the institutions in the region,” he said.
He added that Scholz’s meeting with the leaders of Ghana and Nigeria, two leading nations in West Africa, should enable him to appreciate the impact such programs have on real people.
Germany has also expressed its support for democracy in Africa, and Scholz emphasized this during his visit to the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) secretariat, where he expressed concern about the large number of recent coups across Africa.
Paul Ejime, a Nigeria-based international relations analyst, explained that having a stable continent furthers its agenda Germany and the West.
“No country in the global north would go and throw their money away [an unstable] South because investment follows stability and then interest follows. It follows earnings because if you don’t have earnings or returns on investment, if there were no returns on investment, you shouldn’t go there,” Ejime said.
Germany’s Pact with Africa initiative was a pivotal aspect of its relationship with the continent. It focuses on immigration support systems and assistance for the reintegration of Africans wishing to return from Germany and Europe.
Germany recently reformed its immigration policies and is now hoping to attract new skilled labor from the continent.
“I think it’s a great idea, a great opportunity for these two countries in West Africa to have these talks with a big supporter of continental synergies and institutions like [Germany]Bensah said.
Ahead of the Africa and G20 meeting on November 20 in Berlin, Scholz hopes to send a message of his positive intentions across the continent with his visit to Africa.
Africa must own its own development
One of the highlights of his visit to Ghana was a meeting with students of Ashesi University in the eastern part of the country.
Interactions between the chancellor and students focused on Africa’s potential and why young people are key to the continent’s progress.
One of the students, Valeria Akon, told the chancellor that Germany and the West must avoid micromanaging the continent.
“As we continue to discuss this future of Africa, I would like to build on Germany’s role in this,” Ackon said. “External forces tend to forget that indigenous solutions already exist on the continent, we don’t need a Western savior. The ideas exist on the continent and need to be developed and given the stage and opportunity to flourish.”
The chancellor agreed with this and supported the need Africa to own its development. Scholz said the most important takeaway from his conversations with the students was that “with the things, the talent and the techniques that you’re developing in Africa, you can do it yourself, and I think that’s something that needs to be mentioned. “
Editor: Carla Bleiker