Interview with Klaus Wegener (Honorarkonsul Ghana)
You have been honorary consul of Ghana for two years. How did your close relationship with Ghana come about and how would you explain your area of responsibility?
My relationship with Ghana came about through the German-African Business Forum, which the Foreign Society organizes every two years. Three years ago, the President of Ghana was our keynote speaker, who then offered me the honorary consulate of Ghana in North Rhine-Westphalia, which I gladly accepted. The tasks essentially include issuing visas but of course also establishing business contacts and maintaining relations between North Rhine-Westphalia and Ghana, as Ghana is North Rhine-Westphalia’s official partner in Africa.
When did you first become aware of Dr. Samuel Okae and the association Help for Hospital Construction and Emergency Aid in Ghana e.V.?
That was through a report here in the local newspaper. Then I looked for the contact and found it. In that respect, it was a lucky coincidence that it was in the newspaper and that Dr. Okae and I met in this way.
What is your impression of how the hospital construction is being received by Ghanaians locally, but also here in Germany?
My impression is that the hospital construction is being eagerly awaited locally. The medical care in Ghana cannot be compared to that here. In this respect, this is a really commendable act and we can only wish Dr. Okae every success in getting this hospital up and running as soon as possible. Here in Germany, the support is huge. There are a number of companies and tradesmen who fly down there on their own account to help with the construction. This is exemplary, something like this is unparalleled. In this respect, it is very much welcomed on both sides and we can only wish them every success.
What do you think is currently lacking most in medical care in Ghana?
The medical care in Ghana is not bad at all compared to other African countries, but of course it is nowhere near the situation we are used to here in Europe and especially here in Germany. Of course, there is a lack of qualified staff, but also of the appropriate technology. In this respect, Dr. Okae’s project cannot be valued highly enough, as this is the first time that both personal know-how and the necessary technology have come together.
To what extent has this situation worsened as a result of the corona pandemic?
Contrary to what was feared, corona has not left such a catastrophic mark on the African continent as it has here. We have noticed it too: our numbers went down in the summer because the virus does not really like heat and it is warmer in Africa than here. I believe that Ghana in particular has mastered the corona pandemic particularly well. Vaccinations were carried out very quickly and on a very large scale there, so in that respect you cannot say that the situation has worsened further, but of course it has not improved either. This is a situation for which no one has any experience – not us, and not Ghana either. In that respect, it does not make the work of the medical staff on site in Ghana any easier.
What else would you like to say to the readers of the interview?
We would all be well advised to pay more attention to Africa and the people in Africa. The best way to combat the causes of flight is to shape the conditions on the ground so that people have no intention of leaving their country. People are needed on the ground and we should do everything we can to ensure that they find conditions in their home countries that do not make it necessary to flee. Ghana is a role model in this regard. Ghana is a very politically stable country and economically on the rise. In this respect, this is the best precaution to prevent the causes of flight from arising in the first place and we should also never forget that Africa is also our future. That the people in Africa deserve that we give some of our wealth away – but in such a way that it reaches the people in a targeted and meaningful way. Ghana can serve as a good example of this.
I can only appeal to people to donate to Dr. Okae’s hospital project. The association can issue tax-deductible donation receipts. Here, the help really does arrive directly on site without any administrative deductions. And if you want, you can go back and see what you have contributed to with your donation. I know of very few projects where donations are better off than here. So my urgent request, my appeal to everyone who reads or hears this, is to make a donation to the hospital project in Ghana.
Interview with Klaus Wegener (Honorarkonsul Ghana)
You have been honorary consul of Ghana for two years. How did your close relationship with Ghana come about and how would you explain your area of responsibility?
My relationship with Ghana came about through the German-African Business Forum, which the Foreign Society organizes every two years. Three years ago, the President of Ghana was our keynote speaker, who then offered me the honorary consulate of Ghana in North Rhine-Westphalia, which I gladly accepted. The tasks essentially include issuing visas but of course also establishing business contacts and maintaining relations between North Rhine-Westphalia and Ghana, as Ghana is North Rhine-Westphalia’s official partner in Africa.
When did you first become aware of Dr. Samuel Okae and the association Help for Hospital Construction and Emergency Aid in Ghana e.V.?
That was through a report here in the local newspaper. Then I looked for the contact and found it. In that respect, it was a lucky coincidence that it was in the newspaper and that Dr. Okae and I met in this way.
What is your impression of how the hospital construction is being received by Ghanaians locally, but also here in Germany?
My impression is that the hospital construction is being eagerly awaited locally. The medical care in Ghana cannot be compared to that here. In this respect, this is a really commendable act and we can only wish Dr. Okae every success in getting this hospital up and running as soon as possible. Here in Germany, the support is huge. There are a number of companies and tradesmen who fly down there on their own account to help with the construction. This is exemplary, something like this is unparalleled. In this respect, it is very much welcomed on both sides and we can only wish them every success.
What do you think is currently lacking most in medical care in Ghana?
The medical care in Ghana is not bad at all compared to other African countries, but of course it is nowhere near the situation we are used to here in Europe and especially here in Germany. Of course, there is a lack of qualified staff, but also of the appropriate technology. In this respect, Dr. Okae’s project cannot be valued highly enough, as this is the first time that both personal know-how and the necessary technology have come together.
To what extent has this situation worsened as a result of the corona pandemic?
Contrary to what was feared, corona has not left such a catastrophic mark on the African continent as it has here. We have noticed it too: our numbers went down in the summer because the virus does not really like heat and it is warmer in Africa than here. I believe that Ghana in particular has mastered the corona pandemic particularly well. Vaccinations were carried out very quickly and on a very large scale there, so in that respect you cannot say that the situation has worsened further, but of course it has not improved either. This is a situation for which no one has any experience – not us, and not Ghana either. In that respect, it does not make the work of the medical staff on site in Ghana any easier.
What else would you like to say to the readers of the interview?
We would all be well advised to pay more attention to Africa and the people in Africa. The best way to combat the causes of flight is to shape the conditions on the ground so that people have no intention of leaving their country. People are needed on the ground and we should do everything we can to ensure that they find conditions in their home countries that do not make it necessary to flee. Ghana is a role model in this regard. Ghana is a very politically stable country and economically on the rise. In this respect, this is the best precaution to prevent the causes of flight from arising in the first place and we should also never forget that Africa is also our future. That the people in Africa deserve that we give some of our wealth away – but in such a way that it reaches the people in a targeted and meaningful way. Ghana can serve as a good example of this.
I can only appeal to people to donate to Dr. Okae’s hospital project. The association can issue tax-deductible donation receipts. Here, the help really does arrive directly on site without any administrative deductions. And if you want, you can go back and see what you have contributed to with your donation. I know of very few projects where donations are better off than here. So my urgent request, my appeal to everyone who reads or hears this, is to make a donation to the hospital project in Ghana.