German Desk: Beratungsgespräch

    German Desk – Financial Support and Solutions

    Together with partner banks and the local German Chambers of Commerce, DEG is offering "German Desks". This service is available for German SME companies and their local trading partners. The particular needs of German firms and their local partners are handled at the office by a bank employee who is familiar with both languages and cultures.

    The range of services extends from setting up accounts, through services for financing trade and transaction banking, to credit lines or investment financing for local companies wishing to acquire German equipment, for example. In this way, companies can benefit from the combined network of the bank, the Chamber of Commerce, and DEG.

    The most important facts at a glance:

    We operate German Desks in the following countries:

    • German Desk Ghana in cooperation with Access Bank
    • German Desk Nigeria in cooperation with Access Bank
    • German Desk Kenya in cooperation with Equity Group Holdings

    Our partner banks also offer support for German clients operating in additional African countries:

    • Access Bank: Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, DR Congo, Angola, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa
    • Equity Group Holdings: Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, DR Congo

    Services Offered by German Desks:

    • We help to bridge cultural and language gaps.
    • We establish a close link between the local bank, the local business community, the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad and DEG's representative office on the ground.
    • We serve as a bridge for financing solutions which DEG itself could not offer on-site.

    Our Service Spectrum:

    • German Desks assist with trade finance and transaction banking.
    • We arrange credit lines for local investments.
    • We provide investment financing for local companies wishing to acquire German equipment.
    • We help with setting up accounts in target countries.

    Contact German Desk Ghana

    Sebastian Barroso

    Access Bank Ghana Plc

    Max Heinrich
    German Desk Manager

    German Desk
    Access Bank (Ghana) Plc; Head Office
    Starlets '91 Road - Opposite Accra Sports Stadium
    Osu - Accra
    Ghana

    M +233 27 402 3335

    Access Bank

    Access Bank (Ghana) Plc is a full service commercial bank offering universal banking services to the Ghanaian economy since 2009. It is a subsidiary of the Access Bank Group headquartered in Nigeria, with presence in six other African countries and the United Kingdom.

    Within Access Bank Ghana, a team takes care of your needs. Please feel free to contact us:


    Access Bank (Ghana) Plc

    About Max Heinrich

    Max Ernst Heinrich completed his bachelor's degree in Munich and St. Petersburg and later earned a Master's degree in Management from IE Business School in Madrid. He has worked in the treasury department at KfW, as well as in asset management, marketing, project management, and strategy consulting. When working with Knauf in Ghana, Max gained a good understanding of the local conditions. He has been supporting German corporate and business clients as the local German Desk Manager at Access Bank in Ghana since October 2022.

    Contact German Desk Nigeria

    Sebastian Barroso

    Access Bank Plc.

    Sebastian Barroso da Fonseca
    Head of German Desk

    Commercial Banking Division
    1st Floor Left Wing
    58 Awolowo Road
    Ikoyi
    Lagos State
    Nigeria

    T +234 81 26 33 09 66

    Access Bank

    Access Bank is a commercial bank founded in 1989. Since its inception, Access Bank has evolved from a regional bank to a publicly listed multinational bank that is now among the four biggest banks in Nigeria. The range of products and services is wide and covers most countries in Sub-Sahara Africa.

    At Access Bank a German Desk Team is happy to assist you.

    Access Bank

    About Sebastian Barroso da Fonseca

    Sebastian Barroso da Fonseca heads the German Desk at Access Bank, overseeing operations in Nigeria and Ghana. Previously, he served as a Cash Management & Trade Finance Officer in the Corporate & Investment Banking department at Deutsche Bank AG, Germany. With nearly decade of experience in international banking, Sebastian is committed to unlocking the potential of trade and driving growth across sub-Saharan Africa and Europe through innovative solutions. He holds a dual degree in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Applied Sciences in Regensburg and completed the Program for Leadership Development (PLD) at Harvard Business School.

    Contact German Desk Kenya

    Equity Group Holdings PLC

    Patricia Jannack
    German Desk Manager - International Trade Relations

    Equity Group Holdings PLC
    Equity Center, 8th Floor, Hospital Road, Upper Hill
    P.O. Box 75104-00200
    Nairobi, Kenya

    Mobile: +254 7 638 756 66

    Equity Group Holdings

    Equity Group Holdings is a full-service commercial bank and part of the largest financial group in East Africa. A key focus of the bank's business is on promoting the domestic economy, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
    Equity Group Holdings

    About Patricia Jannack

    Patricia Jannack manages Equity Group's German Desk for East Africa, acting as a cultural bridge to facilitate tailored support—such as trade finance, investment, and networking—to help businesses thrive in the region. With experience in political science, economic development, and Middle East/North Africa studies, she has worked at foreign policy think tanks in Berlin and Washington D.C., and as a project advisor in Kenya and Ethiopia. She brings extensive cultural experience from the region and beyond.

    Since 2024, the locations in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria have been part of the Wirtschaftsnetzwerk Afrika (WNA), supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The integration into the WNA strengthens the support for German SMEs in Africa and promotes the connection between German innovations and African market potentials.