Scholz in Africa: ONE calls for action instead of words on "partnership with Africa”

Ahead of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s trip to Nigeria and Ghana starting on Sunday, 29 October, the development organization ONE is appealing for the interlocutors not only to meet verbally at eye level, but to make concrete offers. Scholz should work to create incentives for investment in Africa and fill the much-vaunted “partnership at eye level” with life.

Stephan Exo-Kreischer, Director of ONE Germany, says: “Words alone are not enough. Scholz rightly emphasises that investments in Africa are synonymous with investments in our own future.

” However, the idea of ‘partnership at eye level’ must not be allowed to degenerate into a mere political phrase. For all too often, the major industrialised nations have let Africa down. No wonder many African countries are turning away from the West.

“It is time that partnership-based cooperation with African states was not just mentioned in Sunday speeches but backed up with concrete action. This also includes the fact that Africa urgently needs increased and improved development financing. Africa definitely needs to be heard more than it has been so far. Investing in Africa is also investing in our own future.”

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Stanley Achonu, Director of ONE Nigeria, therefore, calls on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to advocate for development financing and greater African representation.

“Chancellor Scholz spoke out in favour of the African Union’s inclusion in the G20, which has just happened. But that is not enough: Africa must also be represented in financial institutions. In essence, Africa’s progress hinges on access to equitable and affordable investments that foster the development of homegrown solutions to both local and global challenges.

“Moreover, African nations must be included in global decision-making bodies on issues that impact them, thereby granting them control over their own destinies. The chancellor should clearly show his leadership on these issues by actively listening to the concerns of the countries of the global South and promptly translating them into concrete actions,” said Achonu.

ONE urges Germany to fulfil its share of the $80 billion commitment announced by G7 Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) in 2021 to support economic growth in Africa while supporting the call for increased African representation in global decision-making bodies.

Additionally, Germany should lead in championing the reform of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), advocating for greater flexibility, resolving unfair debt systems, and facilitating more accessible finance, potentially yielding over $1 trillion in funding.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.