The migration of Ghanaians to Germany started in the early 1950s when a West Germany policy permitted the travel of students from some African countries to Germany to further their education. This policy was to equip the students with knowledge which would be useful in their country of origin when they eventually returned.[1]
As of 2009, there were about 40,000 "Ghanaians with a migration background" in Germany; where "Ghanaians with a migration background" means "naturalised persons of Ghanaian origin" and "the second and third generation of Ghanaians naturalised in Germany and the children from binational partnerships who did not immigrate on their own," according to Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ).[2]
According to GTZ, there is a sizeable number of undocumented migrants, most of whom arrive in Germany with a valid visa but remain without a residence permit after the allowed time has elapsed.[2]