In April 2023, the first ever visit of the Austrian Chancellor, Karl Nehammer, to Ghana marked a significant milestone in the bond between both nations. The 3-day official visit demonstrated the commitment of the Austrian government to the sustenance of its long-standing relationship with Ghana.

As part of the historic visit, Ghana and Austria agreed to initiate the processes that would strengthen and advance their cordial bilateral relations that exist between the two nations for the attainment of sustainable development.

Among other matters discussed were plans to open an Austrian embassy in Ghana as part of efforts to inject new dynamics into all areas of bilateral relations between Ghana and Austria.

Fast forward, the Austrian footprint in Ghana and West Africa has even made greater impact with the recent opening of the embassy which is already ushering in a new wave of opportunities for Austrian companies, facilitating deeper economic ties and partnerships across the region.

Just a little over a year of Karl Nehammer’s first visit to Ghana, there has been a great manifestation of the agreements made with Ghana reaping great benefits from  several Austrian firms. A prime example is the signing of a €20.4 million contract between FIMA Industries and KOMPTECH GmbH, Austrian leaders in recycling and green ecosystems, and Zoomlion Ghana Ltd, Africa’s largest waste management company. This deal, which seeks to establish two waste treatment plants in Lagos, highlights Austria's growing influence in the circular economy. Expected to create over 4,000 jobs, half of which are targeted for women, the project will also reduce CO2 emissions by 1.2 million metric tons over the next decade.

Ahead of this, the Jospong-Komptech Waste Academy was established to train over 600 staff of Zoomlion and other public officials on integrated solid waste management. Funded by Komptech and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds of Austrian Development Cooperation, the three-year programme continues to provide technical expertise and financial support to empower Jospong staff and the wider stakeholder community.

Beyond the waste management sector, Austria’s presence is also being felt in construction and infrastructure through firms like Strabag, involved in a number of sanitation & water construction projects across Ghana. An initiative that has experienced Austria’s golden touch under Strabag is the ongoing expansion works on the Daboase Water treatment plant. Constructed in the late 1960s with an installed capacity of 27,000m3/day (about six million gallons a day), supported by the Inchaban treatment plant with 18,000m3/day or four million gallons of water a day, the plant is expected produce 22 million gallons upon completion of the expansion works.

Residents of Takoradi, Effiakuma, Kwesimintsim, Kojokrom, West Tanokrom, Anaji and Sekondi, just to mention will heave a sigh of relief upon the completion of the first phase of this project in August 2025.

Inhabitants of some parts of the Volta Region can now conveniently access potable supply of water by virtue of the District Water Supply Project in Adaklu-Waya, Volta Region being implemented by Strabag. Currently in its third phase, the 5-phased $12.5 million water system, is expected to provide clean water to benefit approximately 89,000 people in places such as Adaklu, Aortime-Ziope, Ho-West, North-Tongu upon completion.

Traditionally, the facilitation of bilateral relations between Ghana and other nations is reserved for officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, there are a few individuals who fall outside the scope of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who have contributed significantly to the deepening of the relations between Ghana and Austria. Notable among them is Mr. Isaac Newton Acquah, a Ghana-based Austrian Ghanaian who doubles as the National Project Coordinator for the International Trade Centre Netherlands Trust Fund 5 Programme.

With a passion for fostering international cooperation, economic development, and technological innovation between leading Ghanaian agritech companies and Austria, Mr. Isaac Newton Acquah organized a seminal round table discussion as part of the first ever visit of the Austrian Chancellor to Ghana. Present at the meeting was the Austrian Minister of Agriculture in addition to other government officials from Ghana and Austria. This day also witnessed a €30 million facility agreement between Jospong Group of Companies and the Austrian government for the expansion of the Group’s rice production enterprise, giving a boost to the nation’s rice value chain. A couple of months on, discussions that bothered on the development of the agricultural sector in Ghana have seen some level of implementation with selected players in the industry already reaping some benefits.

Commenting on a Linkedin post recounting the series of events that have happened between Ghana and Austria since the Chancellor’s visit, Head of African Desk for The Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Martin Woller, lauded Mr. Isaac Newton Acquah for his role in forging connections between the two countries leading to deepening of bilateral relations between Ghana and Austria. Describing Mr. Acquah as a “Master Connector”, he highlights the crucial role people like Mr. Newton have played to accelerating the ties between the two countries.

The efforts of Mr. Isaac Newton Acquah are a true reflection of the significant role that diasporans play in bridging gaps between their countries of residence and their countries of origin. It paints a vivid picture of the power of cultural diplomacy, where personal connections and cultural ties play a pivotal role in formal state relations.

At this point, one question remains on the minds of many- Is Austria Becoming the Next Green Powerhouse in Ghana and West Africa? Your guess is as good as mine.