GHANA’S AMBASSADOR TO MALI, H.E. DONALD A. ADABERE, MOVES TO PROTECT THE BUSINESS INTERESTS OF GHANAIANS IN MALI
His Excellency Donald Adabre Adabere, Ghana’s Ambassador to the Republic of Mali, from 7th to 10th February, 2011, embarked on a Consular visit to Nioro and Kayes, about 513km and 630km respectively, northwest of Bamako to meet with Ghanaian nationals in that part of the country.
The purpose of the Ambassador’s visit was to touch base with his compatriot in the Kayes Province and to obtain at first hand, information on their living conditions as well as to ascertain the challenges faced by them in their daily lives as foreigners in the region.
Ghanaians in the Kayes and Nioro Districts are mostly dealers in cow hides, “wele”, cow feet and other livestock products. These products are mainly bought for exportation to Ghana. However, the Ghanaians alleged that in the course of conducting that business, they were faced with several challenges, especially with the local Police and Gendarmeries who insisted on special permits (Certificate de Collecteurs) and imposed exorbitant and often illegal taxes on them, which adversely affected their trade.
Up until the Ambassador’s visit, Ghanaian dealers in the Kayes Region, within which Nioro District is located, had been denied access to the required permit. For that reason, they necessarily bought their goods from Malian middlemen, an arrangement which was not in the business interests of the Ghanaians in the region.
Being aware of that difficulty, H.E. Donald Adabere met with the leadership of the Regional and District Administration, including officials of the Governorate in Kayes, the Deputy Prefect of Nioro (equivalent to Ghana’s Deputy Chief Executive) the Mayor of Kayes as well as the Regional and District Commanders of Police and Gendarmeries to discuss some of those challenges.
As a direct outcome of the Ambassador’s intervention, the Regional and District authorities accepted to grant the requisite permits to the leadership of the Ghanaian Communities in the area to facilitate their trade. With that decision, the Ghanaian dealers in the region would be able to directly obtain their products from the slaughter houses and the surrounding villages, thereby reducing the cost of the products. The security officials also pledged to look out for the Ghanaians and ensure their security, while performing their legitimate businesses.
The Ambassador was assured by the local authorities that Ghanaians could always call on them for discussions on issues affecting their peaceful co-existence in the respective communities, without let or hindrance. The cases of illegal payments as demanded by the police would also be investigated.
His Excellency Donald Adabere, in a separate meeting with his compatriots in Nioro and Kayes, admonished them to be law abiding and to avoid the use of hard drugs as well as to shy away from fraudulent activities and other economic crimes. He alluded to the fact that Ghanaians in the diaspora formed an important channel through which Ghana’s image was projected, saying “You are the best agents projecting the prestige and good name of Ghana, no amount of publicity on the country could replace your personal contacts and the impression you give others about our country”. He encouraged them to earn their living through genuine means and to look out for each other’s welfare.
H.E. Donald Adabere also used his visit to caution Ghanaians in Mali who hoped to transit the country with the sole aim of traveling to Europe for greener pastures, warning that those countries were themselves in difficult economic challenges, and crossing the desert en route to Europe was very dangerous. He stated that hundreds, if not thousands, had paid the ultimate price attempting to embark on that perilous journey. To such individuals, he suggested that they could always retrace their steps back to Ghana to consider other opportunities there.
His Excellency the Ambassador was accompanied by his Deputy Mr. Daniel Okaiteye-Blessyn, the Consul, Mr. Sidik Adams Braimah and three National Executives of the Association of Ghanaians in Mali (ASCOGHAM), including Mr. Frimpong Beniako, Mr. Joseph Nkrumah and Mr. Mohammed Mustapha.
There are plans to extend such consular trips to other parts of Mali, to assist Ghanaian nationals resident throughout the country in whatever way possible.
Ghana Embassy Bamako, Mali.
18th February, 2011.
