President arrives in Germany; Meets Merkel today
President John Dramani Mahama, who is on a state visit to Germany, will today hold discussions with the German Chancellor, Dr Angela Merkel, and the Federal President, Mr Joachim Gauck, in Berlin.
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Mr Mahama arrived in Berlin yesterday and he will use the visit to strengthen relations between the two countries and explore new avenues for cooperation.
Ghana and Germany established diplomatic relations in 1960. Since then Ghana has enjoyed the support and cooperation of the government and people of Germany in all facets of its social, economic and political development.
Ghana is a priority partner-country for the German Development Cooperation (giz) and has benefited from German assistance in various areas.
Germany is supporting Ghana's 2013-2015 economic development programme with EUR130 million.
In the last Triennial Bilateral negotiations held in Ghana from May 16-17, 2012, Ghana and Germany agreed to concentrate the development and cooperation on four priority areas.
These are general budgetary support, food security and agriculture, decentralisation and sustainable development.
Areas of cooperation
Other areas of cooperation include environmental protection and resource conservation, the promotion of health services, including the fight against HIV/AIDS, self-help projects to alleviate poverty, small and medium-scale enterprises in the private sector and water and sanitation.
The German Development Service is currently funding 19 projects and programmes in Ghana covering the priority and supplementary areas.
As of December 31, 2012, total German portfolio on projects and programmes stood at 184.81 million Euros, of which 132.92 million Euros had been disbursed.
Germany was a major sponsor of the rehabilitation of the Sokakope-Akatsi road and the Ghana Rural Water Supply Programme.
The German government also finances scholarship programmes for Ghanaian students in Germany and trade relations between the two countries have been developing steadily over the past decade.
German businesses have invested in over 114 projects in Ghana.
Terrorism and Ebola
President Mahama, who is the Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will, in his meetings, also discuss issues of concern to the West African sub-region and the African continent.
These include fighting terrorism, strengthening regional blocs and the establishment of emergency health alert systems.
Investment forum
The President will also address an Investment Forum tomorrow and meet with other German officials, institutions and businesses.