Tuesday, October 31st – Ashesi welcomed German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to campus this week for a town hall event with students, staff, and faculty. Chancellor Scholz visited campus ahead of a visit with Ghana’s President as part of an effort to learn from the perspectives of young people during his time in Ghana and Nigeria. The Chancellor was accompanied by the German Ambassador to Ghana, Daniel Krull, and Ghana’s Minister of Information, Hon. Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah.

The town hall was opened with students sharing their vision of Africa’s future and what they believed would be essential in creating this future.Across the three presentations shared by students, the emphasis was on several key pillars, including effective representation for young people, enabling opportunities for innovation through collaboration, and the importance of education and skills training.

In his responses to student presentations and questions, Chancellor Scholz emphasised his agreement that Africa’s future will be defined by the continent’s young people and leaders. He also highlighted the power of two-way collaboration and the importance of shared learning between the young Germans and young Africans.

“Ghana is young,” shared Chancellor Scholz after the campus visit. “Half of all Ghanaians are below the age of 21. They are the future of the country. During my visit to the capital, Accra, it was important for me to interact with them too. The students of the prestigious Ashesi University think far beyond their campus. Many are moved by how even more people in the country and on the continent can enjoy a good education. […] The Federal Republic supports the country in promoting its talents. The encounter was a highlight of my visit to Ghana.”

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