Germany pledges economic support to Gambia's new democracy

Banjul (dpa) - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday pledged economic and political support to help Gambia bolster its return to democracy."Germany is determined to help Gambia strengthen its democracy, through joint efforts in the areas of energy, security, culture and, most importantly, job creation," Steinmeier said during a four-day visit to Gambia and Ghana.During a state banquet in the capital, Banjul, Steinmeier paid tribute to Gambia‘s peaceful handover of power earlier this year, when President Adama Barrow‘s election ended the 22-year autocratic rule of Yahya Jammeh and returned the West African nation to democracy.Just as during his visit to Ghana on Monday and Tuesday, Steinmeier emphasized the need to create jobs in Gambia to discourage illegal migration to Europe.Thousands of young men and women risk their lives in the Sahara and the Mediterranean and run the risk of falling prey to "the nightmare of modern slavery" while crossing through Libya, Steinmeier said.While in Ghana, Steinmeier declared Germany‘s intent to grant Ghana 110 million euros (118 million dollars) in aid to promote renewable energies, energy efficiency and vocational training.He also opened a migration advisory centre in the capital, Accra, aimed at training young Ghanaians and supporting business start-ups.