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UGAG Report On The Town Hall Meeting Of The Ghana Community With H.E. President John Dramani Mahama In Berlin

By Union Of Ghanaian Associations In Germany (UGAG)
Diaspora (Germany) UGAG Report On The Town Hall Meeting Of The Ghana Community With H.E. President John Dramani Mahama In Berlin
JAN 29, 2015 LISTEN

The President of the Republic of Ghana H.E. John Dramani Mahama and the Ghana Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany H.E. Akua Sena Dansua met last Tuesday evening January 20, 2015 with a cross-section of Ghanaian Community Representatives from all over Germany to discuss issues of national interest.

The meeting was arranged by the Ghana Embassy, Berlin. All Ghana local associations, ethnic associations, religious associations and interest groups were invited to attend the meeting with five (5) representatives.

The president on his recent visit (January 18-21, 2015) to Germany used the opportunity to meet with the Ghanaian community at the Intercontinental Hotel, Berlin. Representatives of the Union of Ghanaian Associations in Germany e.V. (UGAG) were present.

The meeting hall was filled to capacity with Ghanaians from all over Germany. Some had travelled well over 600 kilometers to meet with the president for the first time. All participants at the meeting were required to complete a registration form before they could gain access to the meeting hall.

The registration was supervised by Mrs. Josephine Donkor, Mrs. Amoako Atta and other staff from the Ghana Embassy, Berlin.

Mr. Daniel Dake, president of UGAG, praised Mr. Victor Boadum, president of the Ghana Community, Berlin for the extraordinary planning of the event. It was a colourful event, with the chiefs, queen mothers and other traditional leaders dressed in their regalia.

The meeting got underway at approximately 18.30 hours with the singing of the national anthem. The opening prayer was said by Pastor Kingsley Nimoh. It was all cheerfulness when H.E. President Mahama entered the meeting hall. You could hear the crowd screaming and chanting words like “JDM Our President”, “JDM The Best” and “Yentie Obia”.

The entourage of the president included H.E. Ms. Akua Sena Dansua; Hon. Hanna Serwah Tetteh, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Minister for Education; Hon. Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Communication; Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, NDC General Secretary; Dr. Clement Apaak, Presidential Staffer; Mr. Stanislav Xoese Dogbe, Presidential Staffer as well as other high signatories.

The moderators for the meeting were Ms. Irene Appiah from Hamburg and Mr. Isaac Abu Bonsrah from Berlin. They both did an excellent job.

In her welcome remarks, H.E. Sena Dansua thanked H.E. President Mahama for taking the time off his busy schedule to meet with the Ghana Community in Germany. She as well commended all participants present for coming in their numbers to the meeting.

Speaking on behalf of the Ghana local associations/unions, Mr. Victor Boadum, president of the Ghana Community, Berlin highlighted on the achievements of UGAG in bringing together all associations under one umbrella. Mr. Boadum mentioned the ongoing initiatives of UGAG in Germany and in Ghana to support fellow Ghanaians.

The minister for foreign affairs and regional integration, Hon. Hannah Tetteh in turn addressed the meeting on the current cordial relations between Germany and Ghana since independence and also on the future plans.

The President, H.E. John Mahama began his address by accepting all responsibilities pertaining to the economic issues. He jokingly expressed that he has being tagged “President Dumso” due to the erratic power supply in Ghana. He promised that with the signing of the IMF loan Program, he and his Government will seriously work towards the

solving of all the economic concerns facing Ghanaians. He appealed to all Ghanaians to join hands irrespective of one's political affiliation to solve the numerous issues at stake.

President Mahama praised all the past leaders of Ghana (both civilian and military) since independence to present for the tremendous projects and developments done to the betterment of Mother Ghana. He mentioned that the Kumasi Airport will be uplifted to meet international standards. The railway lines to and from the Takoradi Harbour will also be re-built to relieve the heavy transportation of goods on the roads.

President Mahama was happy to announce that irrespective of the many economic challenges facing the country, his Government had been able to increase the production of staple foods and thereby also exporting more of these agricultural products.

At question time, Mr. Akwasi Opoku Edusei, UGAG General Secretary read/asked the first question authored by Mr. Paul Houssou. The question concerned the status of the National Identification Program. In his response H.E. President Mahama said that the Government was taking the issue very seriously.

He said the first necessary steps, were to continue with the naming of streets/roads. When the naming phase is completed, then the issue of national identification cards capturing the residential addresses of citizens in a central data bank could be carried out.

The second question, authored by Mr. Aaron Hooper was read by Mr. Jacob Aggrey, President, Ghana Union Worms. The question concerned steps being taken by the Government to utilise the competent services of Ghanaian professionals in the Diaspora. H.E. President Mahama said that there are as well many qualified Ghanaians

back home who are also looking up to the Government for positions. President Mahama however advised the professionals in the Diaspora to register with the embassies abroad so that the Government could easily fall on this data bank and to engage their services when the need arises.

The third question was read by Mr. Daniel Dake, UGAG President. The question concerned the €400.00 renunciation fee being charged by the Ghana Embassy, Berlin and also why the Ghana Government was permitting its citizens to renounce their citizenship. This is in contrast to the stance of the Nigeria Government.

Responding, Hon. Hannah Tetteh said citizens of Ghana are at liberty to decide the nationality they wish to acquire, in other words the Government of Ghana does not and will not deter Ghanaians in exercising their constitutional right. On the issue of the €400.00 renunciation fee, she promised to take up the matter with the appropriate authorities and the Ghana Embassy, Berlin about a possible review of the amount.

Other questions were asked by the traditional rulers, the youth groups and the Muslim Community in Germany, to which H.E. President Mahama personally answered all. As scheduled, the meeting came to a successful end at approximately 20.30 hours. The closing prayer was offered by Sheik Imam Hussein, Chief Imam, Ghana Muslim
Community, Germany.

Drinks were provided in the foyer after the meeting. Participants were however highly disappointed that the organizers of the meeting failed to provide food to the many who had to travel xxx kilometers and xx hours to the meeting.

The UGAG-NEC will like to use this opportunity to thank all the numerous Ghana local associations, ethnic groups, religious groups, youth associations, traditional rulers and participants who heeded to our emails to send five (5) representatives to the meeting.

We also thank Mr. Victor Boadum and the Ghana Community, Berlin for all the work done on behalf of UGAG. Not forgetting H.E. Ms. Akua Sena Dansua, Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to the Federal Republic of Germany, and all the Ghana Embassy, Berlin staff for inviting the Ghana Community to be part of the meeting.

Long Live Ghana!!!!!

Akwasi Opoku Edusei,

UGAG, General Secretary

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