Germany applauds Ghana’s democratic credentials and will continue to support her economic recovery regardless of whichever coalition government is formed, Mr Daniel Krull, the German Ambassador to Ghana, said on Sunday.
“Whatever government that comes around the corner, they will focus on Ghana as a beacon of democracy in West Africa and we will continue to assist Ghana in its strife to economic recovery,” he said.
Mr Krull said this on the backdrop of the just ended German Federal election where the Embassy, in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut, held a German Federal election party watch at the institute.
The Conservative Party, the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), led by Mr Friedrich Merz, has won Germany’s election well ahead of rival parties but short of the 30 per cent vote-share they had expected.
With a preliminary 28.6 per cent, it had been reported that Mr Merz’s first priority would be to try to form a coalition made up of his Christian Democrats (and their Bavarian sister party, the CSU) and Scholz’s centre left, despite the Social Democrats worst-ever showing of 16.4 per cent.
The Ambassador, however, said any coalition government formed would not be “disruptive’’ in any way towards Germany’s bilateral cooperation with Ghana.
“All parties who are willing to negotiate a future coalition government are in the centre of democratic spectrum and will follow the mainstream of our bilateral cooperation,” he said.
“I am pretty sure that whatever government that comes to the corner, they will focus on Ghana as the beacon of democracy in West Africa,” he said.
There might be nuances here and there, Mr Krull noted, but they had parliamentarians from the Conservative Party and Social Democratic Party who visited Ghana and shared in the excitement of the amazing relations and bilateral ties.
Madam Anna Wassesfall, Resident Representative, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, said the results were quite satisfactory per the will and sovereignty of the German people, adding that key issues that played out were on illegal migration, economic advancement and security in relation to the war in Ukraine.
She said the CDU and SPD were proponents of collaborations with African countries and with the CDU intending to form a coalition government with the SPD (outgoing government), there would an opportunity for closer relationships between Germany, Europe and Africa in terms of trade and investments.
The election party was marked by a colourful fusion of culture, food and politics.
Long tables were laden with traditional German foods, from bratwurst sausages and pretzels, sauerkraut and traditional German beer, offering a taste of home to the attendees.
“It’s always exciting to see how democracy unfolds, no matter where you are. It feels special to be with my fellow Germans here in Ghana, sharing this experience, and it’s nice to know people are interested in the outcome, even from afar,” said Michael Schneider, a German expat living in Accra.
There was a symbolic ceremonial voting exercise at the occasion where Germans and Ghanaians present voted to elect their MPs and party. The results went in favour of the Green Party with 32.7 per cent.
