Nana Akufo-Addo Calls for Deeper Ghana-Germany Ties at KAS 60th Anniversary Celebration

Former President, Nana Akufo-Addo has called for deeper cooperation between Ghana and Germany. He spoke at the Anniversary Partner Dinner marking six decades of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s (KAS) presence in Ghana.

The event celebrated KAS’s 60 years of work in Ghana, where it began operations in 1966 with programmes in agriculture, health and education before expanding into civic education, democratic governance, political dialogue, the rule of law and economic development.

The speaker said democratic societies required both passion and reason, arguing that passion provided public life with energy while reason helped societies determine how that energy should be directed. According to Nana Addo, KAS had contributed to Ghana’s democratic development by creating platforms where ideas could be tested, experiences exchanged and public policy examined with greater care.

The remarks reflected the anniversary theme, “Six Decades of Democratic Dialogue: Shaping Political, Social and Economic Development Together,” which KAS has used to highlight the importance of cooperation in addressing Ghana’s governance and development challenges.

Nana Addo expressed gratitude for the friendships and engagements created through the relationship between KAS, Germany’s Christian Democratic Union and Ghana’s New Patriotic Party.

The address also acknowledged the contribution of numerous Ghanaian and German partners whose work had sustained the relationship over the years, despite their names often remaining outside the public spotlight.

Recent discussions between KAS and NPP leaders have focused on Ghana’s political and economic future, institutional strengthening, leadership development, youth participation and the formulation of evidence-based policies.

Nana Addo expressed hope that the next 60 years would bring even closer cooperation among the NPP, the CDU and KAS, while also strengthening relations between Ghana and the Federal Republic of Germany.