Germany cannot realize Africa development plan 'alone'

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - Germany alone cannot afford a new “Marshall Plan” for development in Africa, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Ghanaian President Nana Akufo Addo in Berlin, Merkel called for other European partners to take more responsibility.

“A Marshall Plan for Africa cannot be realised by Germany alone, it should be a European project,” she said.

Merkel promised that Germany’s prospective coalition government would further strengthen its support for development projects in Africa.

But she also argued that not only the amount of financial support, but also the “efficiency” in using these sources was important to meet development goals in Africa.

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo Addo underlined that his country wants investments and trade, rather than financial aid, as a key part of its development.

Over-dependency on donor support in the past had not been helpful to the development of countries in Africa, he said.

EU heavyweight Germany initiated “Compact with Africa” program last year, which aims to promote reforms, private investments and development of infrastructure in African countries.

The initiative, often referred to as the “Marshall Plan with Africa”, is also backed by the G20 group, which brings together world’s 20 largest economies.

Merkel said Germany would host a meeting of the G20 and African countries this autumn to evaluate progress of the Compact with Africa program.