The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is strengthening its international network in West Africa. The new DAAD regional office in Accra, the capital of Ghana, has started work. It is initially responsible for Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria. This development is part of the strategic reorganisation of the DAAD's global network.

"By 2050, the share of African countries in the global population will rise to an estimated 25 per cent. The number of students and doctoral candidates in West Africa will also increase in the medium term. The universities and scientific institutions in Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria are already important partners for German universities and their importance will continue to grow. With the new regional office, we are strengthening these links in a region that is important for Germany and Europe," explained DAAD President Prof Dr Joybrato Mukherjee on site in Accra. 

"As the DAAD, we are also deliberately expanding the network of German foreign science policy in West Africa, also with a view to the neighbouring Sahel zone and the associated challenging geopolitical situation. Science diplomacy and the science cooperation area are making resilient and important contributions to German security in these crisis-ridden times. Science is a 'hard currency' in foreign and security policy, and we are delighted to be able to expand our presence in West Africa with the support of the Federal Foreign Office," said the DAAD President.

West Africa in focus

The countries in the focus of the new regional office offer great potential for academic exchange and scientific cooperation with Germany: an estimated 2.5 million young people are currently studying in Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria. The number of exchanges with Germany has also risen continuously in recent years. Around 13,500 students from the three countries are currently enrolled at universities in Germany. In addition, German universities are showing a growing interest in cooperation programmes, with almost 130 partnerships already in place with Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria. The new regional office in Accra enables the DAAD to advise students and researchers locally, to present Germany as an attractive centre of science in the region and to facilitate access to knowledge and contacts in the countries for German universities.

Focussing and consolidation in the global network

The opening of the regional office in Accra, which had previously functioned as an information centre, is part of a comprehensive restructuring strategy for the DAAD network. The focussing process at the DAAD offices around the world, which has been ongoing for several years, is intended to reduce costs and align the international presence with clear strategic priorities.

As part of this process, the DAAD is increasing its involvement in offices with regional responsibility for several countries ("regional offices"), closing some smaller offices ("information centres") and upgrading selected information centres to regional offices with regional responsibility. In 2018, the process started with a total of 71 DAAD offices worldwide, including 15 field offices and 56 information centres. In the course of 2025, the target number of 55 DAAD offices worldwide is to be reached, including 21 branch offices and 34 information centres.

In addition to the office in Accra, a regional office will also open this year in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek. The information centre in Budapest will be closed.

DAAD regional office Ghana