For a long time, numerous Germans harbored fears about economic migrants from Africa. However, in a stark departure from their historically cautious approach, Berlin has now started actively seeking these individuals.
On Fridays, which are designated as colorful-shirt day in Ghana, everyone at the migration center joins in by wearing pink shirts featuring a beige-red-and-white design. The “GIZ” logo is subtly incorporated into the pattern. This small act of self-promotion represents the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), which operates the center. The vibrant shirts hold political significance: for the past two decades, a government initiative has encouraged Ghanaians to celebrate their African heritage every Friday. Additionally, this weekly event provides a boost to the local textile industry.
While the migration center staff members celebrate Ghana’s virtues, the majority of visitors to the center have a contrasting focus: leaving the country for Germany.
The Ghanaian branch of the European Center for Jobs, Migration and Development serves as an ideal location to witness the dramatic transformation in Germany’s immigration policy. Established in 2017, the center’s message until February 2023 had consistently been: “Why not explore opportunities here in Ghana? Migrating to Europe can be perilous.” Moreover, specific programs were designed to facilitate the return of Ghanaians residing in Germany back to their homeland.
However, the message experienced a transformation earlier this month. To emphasize the new direction, two German ministers traveled to the West African nation: Development Minister Svenja Schulze and Labor Minister Hubertus Heil. They visited the migration center, exploring small consultation rooms and the open atrium. Heil expressed the need to make every effort to attract skilled professionals, while Schulze praised the “tremendous potential” of migration. Collectively, they signaled a significant shift in Germany’s immigration policy, particularly in relation to Africa.
Dressed in the lively GIZ Friday shirt, a dedicated staff member sits at their desk, two mobile phones in front of them. The screens light up constantly with new calls and messages. “It’s been like this for a few days,” they say, having worked at the center since 2017. Word of Germany’s increased openness is quickly making its way around.
Over the past four years, the staff member encouraged office visitors to recognize the abundant opportunities in Ghana, emphasizing that the country needed people with their skills. They suggested visitors could start a business and provided information on legal routes to Europe, but only in a “reactive” manner, responding to specific inquiries. The options were limited, such as working as an au pair or studying at a German university, provided the applicant had 11,000 euros in their account as required by the German government. These opportunities, however, were typically the full extent of what was available.
In recent times, the career advisors at the migration center have been faced with the challenging task of providing hope to the people of Ghana. The COVID-19 pandemic had a crippling effect on the economy, followed by a drastic increase in the cost of living last year, resulting in sky-high inflation rates. Consequently, protests emerged across the nation. Adding to the difficulties, Ghana’s universities continue to produce a growing number of graduates each year, surpassing the capacity of the labor market, which has led to high youth unemployment rates. Survey findings reveal that a majority of young Ghanaians are open to the idea of leaving their homeland. The new approach to immigration, which focuses on attracting skilled workers, has been well-received by the career advisors who see it as a much-needed change.
Up until now, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States have been the top destinations for potential emigrants, often resulting in long queues outside the embassies of these countries. Canada, in particular, makes it relatively easy for well-educated Ghanaians to acquire a visa and work permit. The United Kingdom also actively recruits healthcare professionals to address shortages in their hospitals.
In contrast, Germany’s approach has primarily focused on dissuading people from immigrating. The term “economic migration” associated with “Africa” has instilled apprehension in many within the German political sphere. The potential of well-educated young individuals from countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya has largely been overlooked in public discourse.
In an attempt to address these issues, Germany introduced the Skilled Immigration Act in March 2020, aiming to streamline the immigration process. However, in practice, significant challenges remain, particularly with regard to the complex process of recognizing degrees and diplomas. The current coalition government, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, intends to simplify legal immigration. Concurrently, the Development Ministry in Berlin has unveiled a new strategy for Africa, which presents migration as an opportunity rather than a cause for concern, with Ghana at the center of this new approach.
This aligns perfectly with the strategy adopted by the German-Ghanaian recruitment agency, getINNOtized. The company offers IT training in Accra, and over 3,000 Ghanaians have already participated in their courses. Upon completion, some of these newly skilled workers secure employment with German companies, which in turn funds getINNOtized’s courses in Ghana. “Ultimately, everyone benefits,” asserts company founder Ulrich Busch. However, it appears that the German bureaucracy has yet to fully embrace this approach.
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