Ghana is moving closer to establishing a structured skilled labour partnership with Germany after two senior ministers concluded targeted negotiations with major employers, labour agencies, and policymakers in Niedersachsen and Berlin.

Youth Development and Empowerment Minister George Opare-Addo and Employment and Labour Relations Minister Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo held working sessions with companies including Jawoll GMBH, Piller, Jungfer, and Volkswagen.

All four confirmed rising labour shortages in technical and production roles and expressed interest in recruiting trained Ghanaian workers through a regulated programme.

Executives at the firms outlined available vacancies, training systems, and integration support. African trainees currently working at some companies shared positive experiences regarding supervision, language training, and on-the-job progression.

Jawoll’s CEO, Ralf Hartwich, disclosed plans to set up a training hub in Ghana to prepare selected recruits with German-language skills and job readiness before departure.

He also emphasised his confidence in Ghana, noting that he has already established businesses in the country that employ Ghanaians locally and plans to expand these operations further.

Speaking after the engagements, Minister George Opare-Addo said the visit demonstrated the value Ghana brings to the global labour market.

“Our young people have the skills and the energy industries are looking for. We are creating a legal and transparent pathway that connects them to real opportunities while protecting their rights and dignity. This is one of the strongest tools we have to fight unemployment,” he stated.

In Berlin, the delegation met Ghana’s Ambassador to Germany, Professor Ohene Adjei, who pledged the Embassy’s full support for coordinated recruitment, documentation, and worker protection.

The ministers also held discussions with the Economic Council of the CDU, which represents more than 70 major German companies. The Council agreed to invite Ghanaian businesses to its annual meeting in May, offering a new channel for investment and partnership discussions.

Minister Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo stressed that the government’s approach focuses on skills transfer, not brain drain.

“We want a system that gives our people exposure, income, and experience, then brings them home stronger,” he noted. “This partnership must work for German companies, but it must also deliver long-term value to Ghana’s economy. That balance is non-negotiable.”

The mission, coordinated by NAYT Consult Limited with support from the Youth Employment Agency, is part of a broader national strategy to open regulated migration pathways while ensuring worker safety, qualification recognition, and structured reintegration upon recruits’ return.

The founders of NAYT Consult, Agyenna Kesse-Tachi and Nana Yaw Konadu, explained that the company has developed a comprehensive programme covering language training, job contracting, work permit application, visa processing, and integration processes to make the work abroad experience seamless.

Additionally, the programme includes an exit plan enabling Ghanaian youth who migrate to Germany to return within five to seven years with skills, capital, and networks to establish businesses in Ghana.

Government officials say the next phase includes drafting a bilateral skilled migration framework with Germany and rolling out pre-departure training hubs in Ghana. Pilot recruitment batches are expected once formal agreements are finalised.