The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)—known in German as the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst—has expanded its international footprint in West Africa with the establishment of a new regional office in Accra, Ghana’s capital.
According to an official statement, the Accra-based office has commenced operations and initially covers Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria. This expansion underscores DAAD’s commitment to strengthening academic and scientific networks in a region of growing strategic importance for both Germany and Europe.
“By 2050, Africa’s share of the global population is expected to reach 25 percent. The number of students and doctoral candidates in West Africa will increase significantly in the coming years,” noted DAAD President Prof. Joybrato Mukherjee during the launch event in Accra.
“Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria already play an important role as academic partners for German institutions—and this role will only grow. With the new regional office, we are reinforcing these vital connections.”
Prof. Mukherjee also emphasized the broader geopolitical significance of the initiative:
“As the DAAD, we are intentionally expanding our international academic network with a view toward the neighbouring Sahel region and its complex geopolitical dynamics. In these turbulent times, science diplomacy and academic cooperation contribute meaningfully to Germany’s foreign and security policy. Science is a ‘hard currency’ in international relations, and we are proud to strengthen our presence in West Africa with support from the Federal Foreign Office.”
DAAD has maintained a presence in Ghana since 2000, playing a pivotal role in fostering academic cooperation between Ghana and Germany. Over the past 25 years, the number of DAAD scholarships awarded to Ghanaians has increased more than tenfold, and institutional collaborations have nearly tripled in the last decade. Germany has become the third most popular destination for Ghanaian students pursuing higher education abroad.
The opening of the Accra regional office—only the second of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa—reflects the region’s growing importance as a hub for academic exchange and scientific research. Currently, approximately 2.5 million students are enrolled in universities across Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria, with around 13,500 students from these countries studying at German universities.
Interest from German institutions has also been on the rise, with over 130 existing partnerships between universities in Germany and their counterparts in the three West African countries.
Until now, German universities had no central contact point in the region for initiating or expanding academic networks. The new DAAD Regional Office in Accra fills this gap, offering a local hub for student advising, researcher engagement, and institutional collaboration.
The office will promote Germany as a leading destination for higher education and research, while facilitating access to local knowledge and partnerships for German academic institutions.
Students, researchers, and academic institutions interested in learning more, attending information sessions, or scheduling consultations are encouraged to reach out to the DAAD Regional Office in Accra.
