History

The German International School Accra (GISA) boasts a rich and eventful history spanning sixty years, making it one of the oldest international educational institutions in Ghana’s capital city.

In 1966, the school was established under the name RMS Swiss School in Accra, thanks to the initiative of the Swiss community in Ghana, particularly the efforts of Gottfried and Marianne Bolleter. 

The school was named after Friedrich August Ramseyer, a Swiss missionary who worked for several decades on the former “Gold Coast” from 1864 onwards. His biography is closely linked to the history of the Basel Mission as well as to the broader political and social developments of that time. From today’s perspective, the work of European missionaries is viewed within the wider context of colonial structures. Alongside their role in education and religious outreach, they were part of complex historical processes that were closely connected to European political, economic, and cultural influence in West Africa. The German International School Accra understands its own history as part of this broader context. We see it as our responsibility not only to preserve this history, but also to reflect on it critically and to make different perspectives visible. In this spirit, our school today stands for a modern and open-minded approach to education. Guided by our mission “Building Bridges,” we aim to empower young people to question history, appreciate cultural diversity, and take responsibility in a globalized world.

The school’s original mission was to provide Swiss children in Ghana with a high-quality education aligned with Swiss standards, ensuring a smooth transition to further schooling back home. To fulfill this vision, a secondary school level was soon introduced.

The school began humbly with just 23 students and two teachers. However, a warm, family-like atmosphere and individualized attention have always been central to its approach. To enable children to attend school, they were often transported over long distances on difficult roads. For students from more remote areas, an attached hostel provided a much-appreciated place to stay during the school week. Alongside the primary school, a kindergarten and a daycare for children aged 1 to 3 years have always been part of the institution.

For many years, the RMS Swiss School was the only Swiss school on the African continent. Its existence was closely tied to the longstanding tradition of the Basel Mission and the early presence of Swiss businesspeople in Ghana. Moreover, Ghana's political stability, especially following its independence in 1957 as the first African nation to achieve this milestone, made it an attractive location for international initiatives.

In 2012, the school relinquished its recognition as a Swiss international school due to the declining Swiss community in Accra. Subsequently, the school evolved and, in the 2013/2014 academic year, became a recognized German international school with a bilingual curriculum based on the Thuringian Education Plan.

A major milestone in the school’s development was the awarding of the “Excellent German School Abroad” quality seal by the German Federal President in 2016. In the years that followed, the German International School Accra increasingly developed into a modern bilingual encounter school with an international outlook and a strong network of educational and cultural partnerships. The school successfully participated in international school development and cultural projects and reached an advanced stage in the selection process for the German School Award for German Schools Abroad. Particular recognition was also given to intercultural music and exchange initiatives such as “Volksmusik verbindet” (“Folk Music Connects”), which promoted dialogue and cultural exchange between students from different countries. In 2025, the German International School Accra received the “Premier International Education Leadership Award” in the category “Excellence in Multilingual and Cross-Cultural Education” in recognition of its commitment to multilingualism, intercultural learning, and bilingual education. In addition, the German International School Accra is a campus school partner of the University of Potsdam and works closely with national and international partners in the fields of teacher training, language education, and school development. The commitment of members of the school community to social engagement has also received recognition: in 2025, Headmaster Rainer Kropp-Kurta was honoured by the Gerald Asamoah Foundation with the “Herzmensch 2025” award.

From the 2020/21 academic year onwards, the two streams were merged into a unified bilingual concept. Students now pursue a Cambridge interim examination in Grades 7/8 and aim for a German middle school diploma. During this transition, the school adopted its current name: German International School Accra (Deutsche Internationale Schule Accra).

Since the 2023/24 school year, the school has repositioned itself as a bridge-building school with a new guiding principle: "Building Bridges." It now welcomes all children and young people interested in the German language and eager to benefit from the advantages of German educational qualifications.