Ghanaians in Hamburg, searching in the Dark!
A ship without a captain is bound to sink! The Ghanaian community in Hamburg is disintegrating. The sad thing is that they are all wise and smart.
All efforts to get the community leaders to come to together and seek dialogue has failed, where much success has been recorded is the ability to misinform the masses.
The power struggle continues, as we wait for the courts to decide.
The courts are to guide us with rules and regulations, but deciding as to match backwards or forward is in our own hands. Group A: Consisting of Mr Alhassan Mahama and the old executive members, which does not even exist, backed by the consulate somewhere last year held a general election.
The Registrar in Hamburg declared the elections null and void, since they were not legitimate to organize election on behalf of the Ghanaians in Hamburg. Group B: Consisting of Bishop Robert Agyei Mensah the interim executive members, requested for the documents of the registered members so as to enable them call and organize a new general election.
Group A: Refused handing over all previous documents! Implying Bishop Robert Agyei Mensah staying so long in office since the principal goal of setting up the interim Ghana Union Hamburg was to organize a new general election. Group A: Went to court because they were not happy about the Hamburg Registrar’s decision that Group B be allowed to organise the new general election. The court ruled against them.
Both groups started canvassing for members, trying to win some of the community leaders to their sides. Members who refused to be dogmatic were labelled as betrayers.
Why scrambling to organize the General election!
Each group may want to fill the new executive board with their favourites.
The question asked by many Ghanaians is what is there…… actually working with Ghanaians, more especially in Hamburg is like “Searching in the Dark”
Group A: Decided to form a new Ghana Union Hamburg! The question is what for, we have thousands of such smaller unions, and it took Ghanaians several years to accept this union as an umbrella group. Group B: Was also going round trying to win recognition as the main Ghana Union Hamburg. This is wrong, its major function was to call and organize new general elections. Group A: Went to a higher court, which instructed the lower court to carefully study the issue at stake. At this point my wise and smart Ghanaians should go and withdraw the case from the court. The consulate can at this point exhibit a high sense of maturity.
The results of the power struggle is the increasing “character assassination” in our community, and sadly the youth especially those without any prospects are also caught up in “The Pull him down Syndrome”
Initiatives:
Impressed upon the “Nananom” to mediate, a letter was sent to that effect.
Chiefs today must not only be seen showcasing our Kente clothes and palanquins, they should be symbols of peace, respect and authority. Chiefs in the Diasporas and country of origin must help bring peace and unity into their communities and do their possible best to stay out of politics. Your subjects are bound to have their differences and belonging to different political parties. A bias chief looses his authority forever.
Pleaded with one of our young lawyers to mediate, after the community leaders started running to the law courts. We believe this initiate is still in progress. And all those campaign against Ghanaians below 40 years not to contest the Executive membership should put a stop to it. We want more young and dynamic people to clean these mess.
Africaonline24 spoke to some of the community leaders, that there was the need to dialogue. Pastors Afram, Bishop Agyei Mensah and Mr. Denson. Mr. Opanin Koo Kusi, Mr. Mahama Alhassan, Mr. Ohenenana Bonsu, Mr. Anthony Rau just to mention few.
Unfortunately some of the community leaders are not straight in their dealings
Union of Ghanaian Associations in Germany (UGAG). Based on the past experience with the Ghana Union Hamburg, are careful not to be part of the problems.
Ghana Union Hamburg wanted to dominate the UGAG for the mere fact that they are in the majority. Sorry this can not work in any civilized institution, you need to delegate your best people, and if they are competent enough they would be nominated and probable elected to certain positions.
UGAG must be bold to undertake initiatives in bringing peace and sanity into the smaller unions. The Embassy’s permanent membership should be ceremonial and not more. UGAG has been waiting this long for the embassy to instruct them as to what steps to take. “The wait and see” approach can’t be useful. This is the time for UGAG to proof its capabilities.
The current organizing secretary Mr. Kwaku Amponsem said they desired to dialogue with both groups.
Efforts are advance to meet Mr. Bürlich the Honorary Consul of Ghana in Hamburg, over the following issues.
The role of the consulate in the Ghana Union Hamburg affairs.
Why the consulate in Hanover is offering better -/more services.
The consulate is now located at (Lübecker str 1. 22087 Hamburg)
What can be done
Withdrawal of the case pending before the Hamburg court by Group A -/consulate.
The formation of a new Ghana Union Hamburg. Should be suspended, we already have so many smaller unions, we want unity.
The neutrality of the consulate. (Be a father to all your children).
The ability of the consulate to mediate -/make peace. The consulate should then call a meeting in that capacity.
Group B (Bishop Agyei Mensah) should do more in bringing peace between his group, the other group and the consulate. The community expected more from His Royal Eminence.
Please for the court documents cross check at the Hamburg Registrar Departments.
Desmond John Beddy
Africaonline24
28th October 2007
2 + - 4 = (?)
Any community that develops at this space can forget it! At “Kompass 2020” a seminar organized in Hamburg Germany on the 25th of October 2007. The Germans are concern about their leading roles in the coming years.
The Europeans are seeing countries like India and China as main competitors in the emerging world market, and are brainstorming about the future.
What are Ghanaians in Hamburg and for that matter Germany doing fighting for “Ghana Union Presidency” We are happy to have some few once who are smart, but please their smartness should create jobs for us, but not to waste our time and energy at unnecessary meetings.
Africaonline24 has always been questioning why minutes of meetings have always been treated with secrecy.
The minutes of the 9th October 2007 meeting which about 70 people attended reads like this. I mean the copy sent to the court of registry in Hamburg.
German Version
English Version
German Version
English Version
Now is the minutes correct? Who took the minutes? How many people aside the signatory’s knew about this?
Good officially Group B has the court backing again, but what of the Electoral Committee that was elected by the people!.
Maybe we have to start visiting the schools looking for our new sincere leaders. The current communities leaders are tricky, blackmailing and they all have their hiding agendas.
We can forget them and may be have to go for the Turkish lady to come to our aid.
God bless us.
Africaonline24.com
9th October 2007. Hamburg Germany
The Ghanaian community in Hamburg is gradually making some progress, but still has a long way to go. The meeting started at 19.10 pm instead of 18.00 pm.
Mr. Antwi, the head Counsellor of the Ghana embassy in Berlin who seems to have chaired the meeting performed very well, asked the community to forge ahead and to put their personal differences behind them. At a point in time when the consulate in Hamburg and the embassy were accused of their role in the current mess, he was still able to turn things round. He made it clear that the embassy was never to have interfered in the affairs of the community, but were forced to act this time. On many occasions acted like a carrier diplomat and on few occasions acted like a soldier.
Nana Antwiwaa Dodoo a counsellor from the Embassy in Berlin was very busy probably with the minutes of the meeting. Minutes of previous meetings have so far been handled with secrecy and made available to only a section of the community, if we want a new transparent beginning, then we must avoid this selective attitude.
The electoral committee represented by Mrs. Oduro and Mr.Teddy Danso attempted reading to the gathering their previous minutes.
25th November 2007 has been set a side for the general elections.
The issue of who can be voted for or has the right to vote remains in the balance. Some argue that only church and mosque goers or people who are members of other unions have the right to do so. This can backfire because there are lot of people who have high recognition for the Ghana Union but not more. Should that mean such guys could invest their energy somewhere else?
Others were of the opinion that Ghanaians holding German passport should be out because they might not be committed. A Ghanaian irrespective of his "passport" or what he thinks remains a Ghanaian, even in the eyes of the Germans we still remain Ghanaians, in life there are certain circumstances beyond ones control.
The honorary consulate general Mr. Stephen Buhrich spoke his mind and mentioned that the gathering reminds him of the formation of the Ghana Union some years back. The man is right, all along the gathering we were pleading for his financial assistance. „Beggar Union Syndrome" Those ready to form the new executives must have plans of financial independency. Even the churches are able to pay their pastors, if you have difficulties consult the pastors.
He also acknowledge the personal efforts of the out going president Mr. Mahama Alhassan. He mentioned how it started as a group but ended as one mans show. "The task ahead is enormous". It is not only about competency, integrity, speaking German fluently or 20 years and above in Germany, but the ability to work in a team and believing in collective progress.
Lawyer Ama Pokuwaa was very concern about the constitution; she was of the view that the constitution was been misacted. Yes that is true, if we had respected the constitution we wouldn’t have been where we are today. Well, since we are in the deep waters and some of us can not swim well, we naively say just after the elections we attend to the constitution or we call our young lawyers to address those issues.
Dipl.-Ing. Ohenenana Bonsu Kyeretwie also spoke intensively on the legalities of the issue at stake, though people paid rapt attention but I guess most people did not understand what he meant.
His Royal Eminence Bishop Oheneba Robert Agyei Mensah the interim president of The Ghana Union Hamburg addressed the gathering and made it clear that he never intends standing as a president of The Union and he is ready to assist whoever emerges as the next president.
Dr. Doku also pleaded for unity and asked that we do not go back to the past. Dj Susubribi asked the house to look for leaders with vision. Close to the end of the meeting, Opanin Koo Kusi was of the view that always trying to consult those not present at meetings shall not bring the society forward, since those present are those interested in the affairs of the community.
"Setting task forces, take decisions, make mistakes, correct them and keep going"
Ghanaian community leaders agreed that the interest of the Ghanaians and especially their children supersedes all personal interest; there is therefore the need to forge ahead.
The biggest achievement of the day was the forming of "The Electoral Committee" which is to work out modalities of the coming general elections. The committee shall among others notify the general public as to when elections shall be held and who are to be voted for. The Ghanaian communities should therefore take this opportunity to convey to the committee their various candidates. But please it should be people with competence and integrity.
During the meeting Dr. Doku informed the rest that, a Turkish woman has been nominated to address issues concerning Ghanaians in Hamburg, since we appear not to be interested. That is the price for not having a united and consolidated Ghana Union in Hamburg.
Though the meeting started on the wrong note it ended very well, Mr. Boafo was bold to remind the rest that if we refuse to bridge the gap between the parties we shall go home with nothing.
Mr Enusah was very particular about giving Mr. Mahama Alhassan befitting farewell, as due any outgoing president, this issue was taking seriously as that has also been one of the bones of contention.
Mr. Mahama Alhassan the outgoing president of Ghana Union Hamburg and His Royal Eminence Bishop Oheneba Robert Agyei Mensah the interim president of Ghana Union Hamburg assured the Ghanaian communittee it is unfortunate about the past and that they shall do everything in their capacities to bring the community forward. "We have only one Ghana Union in Hamburg" with one goal.
At the meeting it comes out that, three separate bodies had the right to organise election for the Ghanaian Hamburgers. Yes so long as we refuse to see logic the system shall continue to manipulate us. If both camps are sincere then there is the need for more dialogue.
Dipl.-Ing. Ohenenana Bonsu Kyeretwie and Bishop Ofoe Wright did a good job by bridging the gap between the two parties on the legal issues.
The leaders demonstrated a high sense of maturity and it was a "Win Win Situation"
The following were nominated to form the electoral committee.
1. Mr Emmanuel Okpoti
2. Panin Koo Kusi
3. Nana Oppong
4. Lady Cyndi
5. Mrs. Oduro
6. Mr Aminado
7. Mr. Awal
8. Pastor Afram
9. Opanin Nyamekye
10. Mr. Manu
11. Mr Teddy Danso
The committee members were to inform their various institutions.
Africaonline24.com
19th September 2007 Hamburg Germany
It is a pity elders of the Ghanaian community in Hamburg are putting their personal interest above their people.
We seem to be enjoying the power struggle.
Hamburg has known no peace since His Excellency Grant Ohemeng Kesse came in February 2007 and left
and promised to be back somewhere August 2007.
The point is that; Group A believes that Mr. Mahama Alhassan remains the president of Ghana Union
Until he -/executives organise a new general election or as the Ambassador said in February 2007 that he will be
in Hamburg to supervise -/organise new general elections. Group A has the full backing of the Ghana consulate Hamburg
and the Ghana embassy in Berlin. This is unfortunate and has rather worsening the situation.
Group B believes that long before the Ambassador came in February 2007 Mr. Mahama Alhassan’s term of office has ended.
Officially since the12th of November 2006. As the constitution stipulates that the president of the Ghana Union can stand fFor only two terms, on two terms bases. Group B has informed Africaonline24 that they have seeked the audience of the
Ghana consulate in Hamburg and the Ghana embassy in Berlin. Group B is sceptic of the embassy and consulate.
.
Well one expects the consulate and embassy to call both parties to order, this has rather not been the case.
Africaonline24 decided to plead for dialogue since the situation was getting worse. The entire Ghanaian community including
the media are been dragged into it, with a lot of misinformation’s.
A meeting was arranged with Mr. Mahama Alhassan and fortunately at this meeting Mr. Denson and Mr. Nyamekye were present.
The goal of the meeting was to plead with them to accept a proposal to attend a meeting that shall be called, to try bringing
Group A and Group B closer.
Another meeting was held with pastors Afram at his office, His Royal Eminence Bishop Robert Agjei Mensah at his office. Dipl.-Ing. Ohenenana Bonsu Kyeretwie and Mr. Kurankye
were met together at their office with the same goal.
A letter was sent to the national house of chiefs through Nana Basoah, seeking their audience on the same issue
The goal of the meeting is if possible they call the proposed meeting since all parties have signal tTo attend.
The following persons were to be contacted.
Dr Dokyei
Dr. & Mrs Doku
Mr. Sarkodie
Mr. Teddy Danso “The issue was casually discussed” A formal appointment was to follow.
Mr. Anthony Rau
Opanin Koo Kusi
Edinkafo Radio Hamburg
OBE TV
African Heritage
It was very important to have the media around because of the role in disbursing information which could be positive or more destructive.
Whilst these efforts are ongoing, on the 18th of Sept Edikanfo radio Hamburg announced that Group A in collaboration
With the consulate and the embassy in Berlin are calling a meeting on the 26th of Sept and on the 9th of Oct there shall be a general
Meeting to elect new executives. Group B suspected the embassy intentionally did not grant them the audience
For strategy reasons, and a time table already in place for elections indicates something fishy.
These developments shall take the Ghanaians in Hamburg some years back “Ghanaburg + Ghana Union”
What most people are refusing to see or refusing to agree with is that a group with the backing of embassy -/consulate
Or without is baseless when the groups involved do not put their best together.
Group A shall secretly or openly sabotage or efforts undertaking by Group and vice versa.
If we are sincere and not power conscious then first both parties should be called to dialogue.
What the ordinary Ghanaians want to know is what actually the struggle for…is.
Tip. Any Ghanaian can go to the court with a valued passport and the Ghana Union files shall handed to him.
One can also print copies for a token fee.
The truth is that the Turkish community though only about ten years longer in Germany as their Ghanaian
counterparts has achieved a lot as compared to us with nothing to be proud of. Our kids have started
blaming us for all these miseries. One kid I understand asked the parents why they are all running to Britain
The answer is not that the Germans are not helpful but rather we are not capable of mobilising and organising ourselves.
