Ghanaians in Germany

Ghanaians in Germany are Ghanaian immigrants in Germany and their descendants living and working in Germany. Ghanaians in Germany are said to form the second largest of the country’s diaspora populations in Europe, after the United Kingdom.[1]

History

Even before Ghana's independence in 1957, there has been a relationship between Ghana and Germany. The Volta Region of Ghana was part of the German colony of Togo before World War I. In 1957, 44 Ghanaian students were registered in West German universities through a policy that allowed Africans to build skills in German universities. In the 1960s and 70s, most of the Ghanaian migrants to Germany were education migrants. They formed local associations in the university towns and cities in Germany, which in turn became the Union of Ghanaian Students in Germany (UGSG).[1][2]

In 2009, according to Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), there were about 40,000 'Ghanaians with a migration background' in Germany; where 'Ghanaians with a migration background' means 'naturalised persons of Ghanaian origin' and 'the second and third generation of Ghanaians naturalised in Germany and the children from binational partnerships who did not immigrate on their own'.

Almost 9,729 children were born to German-Ghanaian couples between 1965 ad 2006. In 2007, 20,329 persons with Ghanaian citizenship were officially registered in Germany, 8,194 Ghanaian citizens became German citizens between 1980 and 2007.[3]

Currently, Ghana maintains good relations with Germany and there is a large Ghanaian community in Germany, many of whom go there for educational migration, asylum-seeking migration and family reunification.[4][5]

Distribution

Ghanaians in Germany mostly live in the metropolises of Hamburg, Berlin and Bremen, the Ruhr region, and the Frankfurt/Main metropolitan area. 22.7% of Ghanaian migrants, the highest percentage, live in the city of Hamburg. Also, 23.8% of the Ghanaians living in Germany live in North Rhine-Westphalia. 9.2% of Ghanaian citizens in Germany live in Berlin. 9.8% live in the federal state of Hesse. There has been a long tradition of Ghanaians migrating to Hamburg, hence the concentration of Ghanaians there. In Ghana, the word ‘booga’ or ‘burger’, used to refer to migrants, has roots in the name ‘Hamburg’.[5]

Associations

In June 2004, through an initiative of the Ghanaian Embassy in Germany, the Union of Ghanaian Associations in Germany (UGAG) was formed to include all Ghanaian associations in Germany. The first attempt in 1996 had failed. Church communities are among the most influential formations as Christianity is the largest religion in Ghana. Ghana Catholic Mission-Hamburg, the Bethel Church-Stuttgart and the Presbyterian Church of Cologne are the best-known Ghanaian churches in Germany.[5]

Remittances

Ghana is now one of the top recipients of remittances from its global diaspora. Private remittances make up over one-sixth of the countries gross domestic product. In a survey, 90% of Ghanaians transfer money to Ghana for their families. Some even send more than half their income and go into debt.[5][6]

Culture

Music

From the late 1970s to the early 1980s, a genre of music came up in Germany and Ghana called Burger Highlife – fusion of highlife, and funk music styles. Ghanaian immigrants in Germany created it.

Living in Germany

Education

For Ghanaians hoping to study in Germany, the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) can't be used for direct entry into a German university as it would be used in Ghana. A student has to complete one year of tertiary education in Ghana or complete a one-year preparatory course (Studienkolleg) in Germany. Also, there are no HND top-up courses in Germany. Ghanaians would have to apply for the Bachelor's degree in a university of applied sciences.[7]

Other aspects of living and working

Ghanaians migrants and visitors like other nationalities have to book a hotel for short stays or rent or buy a home for a more extended stay.[8] Learning the German language is required for professions like nursing and healthcare.[9] Ghanaians that start their own businesses in Germany, like everyone else, need to register with the trade office if they are self employed or the tax office if they want to work as freelancers.[10]

References
  1. "Ghanaians in Germany – 1950s till today". THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora!. 2017-08-23. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  2. "Volta Region". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  3. "The Ghanaian diaspora in Germany" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 8, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  4. "Germany marks 60 years of Ghana relations | DW | 30.09.2017". DW.COM. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  5. Schmelz, Andrea (2009). "The Ghanaian Diaspora in Germany. Its Contribution to Development in Ghana" (PDF). migration4development.org. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ). Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  6. "Remittances, Consumption and Investment in Ghana" (PDF). worldbank.org. 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  7. Address: 30; Road, Kakramadu; Institut, Cantonments Accra Telephone: +233 261 09 09 39 E.-Mail: infodaad-ghana org Located at Goethe; Cantonments; Accra (2018-06-13). "Admission Requirements". DAAD Ghana. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  8. "Looking for housing". www.make-it-in-germany.com. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  9. "Do I need to know German?". www.make-it-in-germany.com. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  10. "General requirements". www.make-it-in-germany.com. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
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