Ghana Union Mannheim, Ludwigshafen e.V. Ghana Union Mannheim / Ludwigshafen e.V. HISTORY The year 2005 commemorated the 5th anniversary of the Ghana Union Mannheim & Ludwigshafen e.V. (GU MA-LU). Since its re-launch on the 30 December 2000, and despite its enormous undertakings, the association has remained true to the mission outlined by its founding members. In the face of recent difficult economic and living conditions, GU MA-LU’s current initiatives enduring to provide the needs of fellow Ghanaians back home indicate a promising future for the people and their community. GU MA-LU is committed in Migration for Development initiatives. The association was first founded in 1991 with the goal to promote unity and to seek the well-being of its members. Due to an ineffective leadership that failed to unite its members, coupled with a non-collegial attitude of some of the members which loyalty was focused on tribal lines, the association could not survive the times and therefore died a natural death. In or around June 2000, about 15 interested persons met and re-formed the association. They promised to protect and promote the mutual interests of its members, maintain a dignified code of ethics, combat backdoor activities, stimulate the public’s desire to participate and promote GU MA-LU’s activities. A constitution for the new association was drafted and approved by the general meeting. Subsequently, the association was duly registered with the Amtsgericht of Mannheim in 2001 where the association has its legal seat. In this difficult atmosphere of human organization, where the only constant seems to be change, it is extraordinary to realize that GU MA-LU’s core goals has remained the same 14 years later. In the first years of the new millennium, GU MA-LU has continued with its efforts to support and provide for needy institutions in Ghana. The association has stood to its aims of being a non-profit making organization. The Ghana Union Mannheim & Ludwigshafen e.V. has in the past donated drugs and equipment to a considerable number of government health and educational institutions in Ghana. The association supported the victims of the Accra Sports Stadium stampede in May 2001 when dressings and drugs were presented to the Authorities of the 37 Military Hospital in Accra that hospitalized most of the injured spectators. The association financed and completed in March 2005 a 10-seat KVIP toilet project for students of the Amanhyia Roman Catholic Primary School (a town between Suhum and Koforidua) in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Many projects in the pipeline include the construction of a vocational center for the students. Activities of the association are not only limited to the home country Ghana. The association donated in cash to the 2002 Elbe River floods victims of Riesa, a town in Sachsen of Germany. The association is a partner to several kindergartens in the area and we support their activities from time to time. The association organizes video/PowerPoint seminars on Ghana with partner institutions. GU MA-LU honours all invitations and participates in all activities it receives from its host City of Mannheim and is very active in the diversified community of Mannheim international community. With the assistance of its partner, Heidelberg University Hospital, GU MA LU has been donating yearly quantities of Hospital equipments to needy clinics in Ghana. Thanks to GIZ of Germany which has also been assisting the association with shipment cost. The association has kept up its efforts in the area of transparency. GU MA-LU is improving its membership relations and giving members tools to be active at general meetings in an atmosphere of harmony and trust. The association does not consider any member’s suggestion or statement based on personal knowledge, ability, aptitude, general qualifications, character, loyalty, or suitability. “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy” they say, therefore the association organizes a mid-year and end-of-year get-together for its members. GU MA-LU has been an active partner in organizing Africa Days Program in Mannheim to showcase the rich African culture, food, traditional forms of dance on the Africa continent. Educationally, GU MA-LU is working on several new programs with the City of Mannheim, Office of Education, Volkshochschule Mannheim, the Arbeitsamt Mannheim and Eine-Welt Forum to offer free or reduced-rate German language courses and the opportunity for members to acquire qualifications using life experience and working experience. GU MA-LU is involved in presenting the positive picture of the Africa continent to the outside world. Its membership comprises of people with different interesting background, notably; Medical doctors and nurses, Social workers, Pastors, Engineers, Consultants, Businessmen and women, Professional Drivers etc.