Migration

Why liberals and Germany must get it right

As Germany grapples with an ageing population, persistent labour shortages, and growing skills gaps across key sectors, migration has moved from the margins of policy debate to its very centre. What was once framed as a long-term demographic challenge has become an immediate economic reality. For liberals across Europe, the issue raises fundamental questions about freedom of movement, individual opportunity, and whether mobility should be seen as a threat or a source of shared prosperity.

For Germany, this is no longer a theoretical discussion. The country is actively negotiating migration partnerships with African states, aiming to attract skilled workers while supporting development at home and abroad. Whether these agreements succeed will depend not only on numbers, but on fairness, transparency, and long-term vision.

Germany’s labour shortages are now well documented. From healthcare and IT to transport and skilled trades, employers across the economy report unfilled posts. In response, Berlin has reformed its migration laws and signed bilateral agreements with countries such as Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda, creating structured pathways for skilled workers from outside the European Union.

For African partners, however, the promise of opportunity is inseparable from concerns about exploitation and inequality. Dr Benjamin Anyagre Aziginaateeg, Chief Executive Officer of the Afrikan Continental Union Consult (ACUC) in Ghana, argues that international mobility should be guided by shared standards and mutual respect.

“Are people going to be treated under the same rules as citizens of Germany?” he asks. “If conditions are fair, then movement is part of being a global community. But if Africans are treated differently, without equal protections, then it raises serious concerns.”

At the heart of these concerns lies the fear of exploitation. Dr Anyagre Aziginaateeg warns that skills migration must not repeat historical patterns where African labour was extracted without dignity or long-term benefit. He stresses that workers must have decent conditions, equal rights, and opportunities to return home and share their knowledge.

“If people leave because conditions at home are not encouraging, that is understandable,” he says. “But if they go and are treated unequally, or stripped of their rights, then it becomes something else entirely.”

The long-standing fear of “brain drain” continues to shape African debates on migration. Yet many policymakers and development experts now argue that mobility, if properly managed, can lead to “brain gain”. Circular migration schemes — where workers gain experience abroad and later return offer one possible solution.

Germany’s emerging partnerships reflect this thinking. Joint vocational programmes, investments in training institutions, and pathways for skills transfer are designed to ensure that migration strengthens, rather than weakens, partner countries. For liberals, this approach aligns with the belief that freedom of movement should expand life chances without undermining social cohesion.

However, risks remain. Dr Vusimuzi Sibanda, Chairperson of the African Diaspora Global Network and a legal expert in labour migration, says his organisation frequently receives distress calls from African workers who feel misled.

“People arrive expecting decent work, only to find themselves stranded or exploited,” he explains. “Some want to return home because the reality does not match what they were promised. We have had to intervene with embassies because of the treatment people face.”

Sibanda acknowledges that migration can bring short-term benefits, particularly through remittances that support families and local economies. But he cautions that development narratives are sometimes used to mask unequal arrangements that leave workers vulnerable.

Another major obstacle is the recognition of qualifications. Many African-trained professionals face lengthy and complex processes before they are allowed to work in Germany. These delays cost Germany much-needed productivity and undermine trust among migrants who are eager to contribute.

Streamlining recognition procedures, introducing bridging courses, and agreeing on common standards would go a long way towards making mobility fairer and more efficient. For liberals, reducing unnecessary bureaucracy is not just practical policy; it is a question of justice.

Youth mobility is another area with untapped potential. Africa’s young population could help fill Germany’s future workforce needs, particularly in green, digital, and healthcare sectors. Exchange programmes, study visas, and vocational placements would allow young people to gain skills while reinforcing the idea that migration is about choice and opportunity, not desperation.

Germany’s labour shortages are real, and Africa’s demand for fair partnerships is equally pressing. Ethical recruitment, transparent qualification recognition, and meaningful youth mobility offer a path forward that balances economic necessity with liberal values.

If Germany gets this right, migration need not be a zero-sum game. It can become what liberals have long argued it should be: a driver of shared prosperity, personal freedom, and stronger global partnerships.