A move to the private sector one day – that is a plan Obed Kwame Essandoh had in mind while working with the Ministry of Energy in Accra, Ghana. This young engineer’s professional dream would be to join an international energy company.

“Researching energy for Africa and energy consulting are things that interest me for my career,“ the young Ghanaian reports. Recently he took steps in that direction with E.ON AG, the German company that hosted him during the 2009 AFRIKA KOMMT! programme.
Enlarge image Participant in the 2008 Afrika Kommt! program (© Afrika Kommt!) AFRIKA KOMMT! is a joint initiative of 19 German companies and the German Government which seeks to develop the economic potential of Sub-Saharan Africa. Programme partners include INWENT, ZEIT Stiftung Ebelin and Gerd Bucerius and Robert Bosch Stiftung. In 2008 -2009, they had invited 20 young African professionals for a 12-month stay in Germany.

The participants completed the program at the end of September 2009. A two-week refresher course recently took place in Germany (September, 2010), offering the opportunity for an open and personal dialogue between all participants.

“AFRIKA KOMMT! was extremely valuable to our personal and professional development” summarized the participants from all over sub-Saharan Africa. Even where reintegration back in their country of origin had not been easy, skills learned and contacts made may have helped to pave the way or open feasible solutions beyond expectations. Some of the West African participants came from francophone Ivory Coast (one) and Anglophone Ghana (three). They enjoyed networking during talks and visits, such as going to an exhibition of French paintings together.

Busy Sales Manager Abdoulaye Diallo, of Safmarine Container Lines NV in Abidjan, specialises in sea transportation. He aspires to establish a network of cooperation between companies in the Ivory Coast and their German partners. Fluent in both English and French, as well as local languages, he is now also capable of communicating in German.

Frederick Kenneth Appiah earned his Masters of Science in Engineering at KNUST University in Kumasi, Ghana and is employed by Ghana’s National Energy Commission. His professional interests concern renewable energy.

Appiah was posted at SCHOTT AG during the AFRIKA KOMMT! programme, and after his return, he was promoted.

“Besides the work experience with SCHOTT Solar and Energy Systems construction, I familiarized myself with the German attitude towards work and thus improved my own professional ethics.“ He is now a Senior Programme Officer responsible for the department of renewable energies (Solar and wind energies). Enlarge image Participants of the Afrika Kommt! programme in Germany (© Judie Kaberia) Ernest Sanyare Warmann Beinpuo was also glad to have been part of this group of young African professionals in Germany. Ernest was working with the Ghanaian German Economic Association (GGEA), a professional body of businesses and individuals intending to do business between the two countries, when he was chosen to take part in the AFRIKA KOMMT! Programme.

“[The Afrika Kommt!] program has had a significant impact on my professional engagement.” It boosted his self-confidence to establish a small micro-finance business. Ernest was posted at Bayer Schering in Berlin. During his professional training, discussions and visits in the programme, he was entrusted with interesting tasks and was able network with his German colleagues.

“[Afrika Kommt] has greatly enhanced my management skills, providing me with several management tools that I engage in the daily management of Equity Micro Fund. Equity Micro fund is an institution offering credit to rural women to improve their lots,” Ernest says.

Now back in Ghana serving as Chairman of Equity Micro Fund, he is keen to implement what he learned. “I am involved in making many management decisions geared at growing the company and enhancing its profitability. It is therefore good training ground for the many skills that I acquired as part of my training during AFRIKA KOMMT! I am heavily involved in fund mobilization, and investor recruitment which entails holding many meetings and making presentations.”

Participant experiences and observations about Germany
Some participants from West Africa were especially pleased with the German infrastructure. Ernest Beinpuo knows very well how it feels to be stuck in traffic jams and waiting for tro-tros - “public” - transport in Ghana’s main cities Accra, Takoradi and Kumasi. He is all too familiar with this frustration, especially when you have a meeting with an important business contact.

Enlarge image Tonata Mbango, Namibian participant in the 2008-10 Afrika Kommt! program (© Afrika Kommt!) In contrast to Ghana, he notes that “Germany is such a nice country! I am totally in love with the very efficient public transport system across the length of the country.” He was also impressed with the “cosmopolitan” country and its nice and friendly people. “The people’s commitment to work and their work culture is so encouraging. Their attitude towards time and punctuality is outstanding and comparable to none,” he commented.

Networking was “The Best”
The Ghanaian entrepreneur Beinpuo felt the best thing about the follow-up session in September 2010 was “the networking and experience-sharing opportunities that it offered to the participants...When we were back together in Germany, we could share our various experiences after a year.” He reported to the other participants on the success of his academic studies. But he also recalled his favourite moments while at Bayer.

“A strategy for the following year was planned. It was such an insightful moment for me to be part of a departmental strategy planning process. Other great moments were when I was used as a resource person for information  about the African business environment, enlightening colleagues who were travelling to Africa on a business trip for the first time.”

Beinpuo reflected, noting “If I had to choose just one reason why I enjoyed my time at Bayer Schering Pharma, I would say the people. The attitude is positive and the work ethic is solid. Working in a collection of experts has a way of making you better at your own expertise.”

For more information about Afrika Kommt see link at right.