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.
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.
Further Reading
- German Academic Exchange Service (24.04.2025): DAAD opens regional office in Ghana
