body-container-line-1
24.07.2015 Diaspora (Germany)

Re: Ghana Ambassador To Germany Runs Riot

By Mellisa Sheriddan, ANA Diplomatic Correspondent & Angela Smith, ANA Editorial Manager
Re: Ghana Ambassador To Germany Runs Riot
24.07.2015 LISTEN

The Ambassador is back again with her rejoinder. Welcome on stage! As Ambassador, you do not subject your fellow black person to public ridicule this way, especially someone of the same nationality as you. All we can say is that we shall defend your right to reply!

A few observations:
You indicated that we “suddenly arrived at the venue…”. We did not “suddenly arrived…”. Below is the exchange of communication between us and the organizers:

Re: Wirtschaftsgespräch Ghana mit Umweltminister Hon. Mahama Ayariga

Von:

Moritz Hunger <[email protected]>

An:

Musah Ibrahim Musah <[email protected]>

Datum:

https://ox.hosteurope.de/ox6/v=PIVRRID/themes/default/img/menu/tag_0.gif

10.07.2015 18:54

Dear Mr. Musah,
Thank you for your message. The business talk was moved last minute to Monday, 13th July 3-5 pm. I will register you as a media representatives.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Kind regards
Moritz Hunger

Below is our mail requesting accreditation:
Am 01.07.2015 um 08:50 schrieb Musah Ibrahim Musah <[email protected]>:

Dear Mr Hunger,
Kindly register us as Media representatives for the above-mentioned event.

Attached, please find, a copy of my Press Card.
I am looking forward to hear from you soon.
Best regards
Musah Ibrahim Musah
AfricaNewsAnalysis/WapsMedia
Wilhelmsruher Damm 97
13439 Berlin
Tel. +49 30 4049800
Mobile: +49 177 3060852
E-Mail: [email protected]
<PressCard2015.jpg>
On the afternoon of Thursday, 16th July, 2015, Musah spoke with Mr Hunger who expresses remorse at the unfortunate incident and rendered unqualified apology to Musah with the remark that “I didn’t know it would be a problem for the Ghana Embassy, this time.” The phrase “this time” was very timely because, we have always been covering activities of the German-Africa Business Association – big or small – without hindrance. We pointed out that, the problem has nothing to do with the Ghana Embassy per se but with this particular Ambassador.

Ghana boasts world-acclaimed Foreign Service with first-class Foreign Service Officers; carrier diplomats who appreciate the importance of their office, and with whom we have co-operated excellently in the past.

We are not in the business of allowing respect less individuals, no matter who they are, to let us look ridiculous in the eyes of right thinking members of society. Of all the reporters and camera men around, why did you pick on your fellow black person? For, Musah was the only black amongst us. It appears to us that, it never, ever occurs to you that a black person is also capable of employing white people.

For your information, we are his employees. If a white person had done what you did to him, people would refer to that as racism. How should we interpret what you did; black against black. How should we call that? Give us a name; is it racism? Black racism? What is it, Madam Ambassador? Or shall we say Madam “I am also a journalist and I know how journalists work?”

We were standing in the small conference room when you entered angrily after confronting Musah in front of the elevator, in the presence of his staff and other waiting reporters, and asked Mrs Hilaria M. Dey, Counsellor at Ghana Embassy to call Bmbf (Germany’s Ministry for Education and Science) and inquire about Musah’s credibility. He interviewed Hon Mahama Ayariga at Bmbf during the meeting of West African Environment ministers. You asked for his business card, to use it and inquire about his credentials. You suddenly assumed the role of Foreign Police in Germany. Why didn’t you ask the other reporters present for their identity? Is it because we happen to be white?

WapsMedia is an independent film and content producers. We produce content for distribution to various media outlets including the BBC. When His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, then as Vice President launched his first book in the United States, it was our North America Editor, Mr Alhassan Y. Babalwaiz, who interviewed the President on his book and we carried the interview. GNA actually waited for a write-up on Hon. Mr Ayariga’s presentation at the meeting with the Business Executives. You may verify this with the Supervising Editor, Mr Muhammed Issahaq. So if you have persuaded yourself that we are fraudsters, think again. Some of us don’t need to enter politics to succeed in life.

Your conduct on 13 July 2015 around 15:00hrs was an insult to the integrity the office of Ambassador. Your behaviour is Ad absurdum, to say the least. An Ambassador that behaves like Advocatus Diaboli is not worth the title for which they are appointed.

As we indicated earlier Ghana boasts very fine diplomats. We worked and co-operated excellently with diplomats such as Ambassador Grant Ohemeng Kesse, Ambassador Rowland Issifu Alhassan, Ambassador Paul King Aryene, as well as with these fine Foreign Service Officers: Ms Mercy Yvonne Amoah, who served from September 2000 to December 2002 at the Ghana Embassy in Bonn before moving to Berlin as Minister Counselor from December 2002 to November 2004. Mrs Debrah-Karikari, who served from 2000 to 2002 as Minister Counselor in Bonn, Ambassador Ken Koku Kanda, with whom we co-operated successfully in Berlin from 2004 to 2008 in his capacity as Minister Plenipotentiary; and just before you arrived here in Berlin, Musah and Mr Sam Nove, Senior Journalist in Berlin met and discussed issues concerning the Embassy in Germany with Mr Addotey Anum, the then Head of Chancery.

In any case, are you in Germany as Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana or as a reporter for the Ghanaian Times and Weekly Spectator? After succeeding in driving all the reporters and cameramen away, we urge you to write a story about Hon. Mahama Ayariga’s meeting with the German Business Executives for the good people of Ghana to know the good work he came here to do. If you care to know, Hon. Mr Ayariga was not on a secret mission to Germany. His visit was of interest for the generality of the people of Ghana. Write a story, Madam “I am also a journalist and I know how journalists work”. Former Ambassadors of Ghana did not prevent journalists from performing their legitimate duties.

You behaved in your rejoinder as if you never met Musah. You never gave him your card on 13th July 2015 as you indicated in your rejoinder.

For the records, since assuming office here as Ambassador exactly a year now, you have met Musah on several occasions at different venues in Berlin. The first was last year at Café Moscow at a conference organized by the German Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development where you exchanged business cards with him. The second was at the festivities during Ghana’s Independence Day on March 6, 2015.

The third encounter was at the Egyptian Embassy in Berlin during the African Ambassador’s Day on Ebola; Musah actually interviewed you there after interviewing the Liberian Ambassador to Germany, Her Excellency Ms Ethel Davis. We were with him on that day together with his Cameraman, Mr Kodjovi Agbelessessy. The fourth encounter was at the Africa Business Day on 9th June 2015 also in Berlin and the fifth was on 13th July 2015 where you sought to let him look like a stupid person in the presence of us all. And the sixth encounter was on the evening of 13th July 3015 at a reception organized by the German Chancellor, Dr Angela Merkel. So, it is not that you never met him. Now, what has suddenly changed your perception of the man?

What has he done to you to ridicule him this way in public? Or you don’t want to see him at events in Berlin? Then, you may have to remain within the confines of your Embassy. We shall continue to cover events in Federal Republic of Germany; we have been doing that before your arrival here. Or is it that you have something to hide and so a black journalist shouldn’t be around to see?

We shall return…and we’re not going to SPIKE stories concerning you anymore!

body-container-line