You are listening to Herzenssache, project whispers with Madamfo Ghana, the podcast that takes you to Ghana.
Christine and Bettina tell moving stories, chat about their personal experiences and share them.
Come with us on this special journey. Let's go!
Hello everyone! We are very happy to welcome you to the second episode of the Madamfo Ghana podcast.
Last time you saw a little bit of me
find out how I came to Madamfo Ghana as a sponsor.
And Bettina told a little about how she went to Ghana
and built the first well in her village.
And now we think that it might be interesting for you to
Find out how the money I donate here in Germany gets to Ghana?
And Bettina will now tell us how things will continue.
Yes, thank you Christine, great, now we're on the second episode.
I wanted to thank everyone again shortly after your introduction for their letters and for the
kind words and gestures and everyone who has contacted us by email, text, etc.
Thank you very much. Keep up the good work and as I said at the end
We will also explain to you again how you can participate here yourself.
What are we doing today, dear Christine?
As I said, it would be interesting to know how the money gets from Germany to Ghana?
Tanya, our dear colleagues, is based in Hagen.
who manages everything really well with a lot of commitment and passion.
But now, of course, you want to know what it's like and what happens next.
I don’t come with a suitcase full of money and fly into Ghana and
then you go into the country and somehow things have to go on.
And I would ask you to perhaps report
How does the money get from my wallet to the project in Ghana?
Yes, that is really a very good idea. I think it is also exciting for many people to hear how
works because you may not even be able to imagine it.
Exactly, so assuming someone donates to our donation account in Germany, then the next step is actually,
the path from the donation account in Germany to the donation account in Ghana.
And I would perhaps like to explain one thing about that.
We as Madamfo Ghana have the special feature that we
both in Germany as organizations registered as EV,
This is a registered association. But we are also registered in Ghana.
So there are many organizations that are simply EV in Germany
and then somehow have someone in their target country where they can implement it.
But we have, so to speak, what I would call a parent organization and a subsidiary organization.
We have Madamfo Ghana EV in Germany and Madamfo Ghana Foundation.
That is the legal form in Ghana, in Ghana. So there is Madamfo Ghana EV and Madamfo Ghana Foundation.
And that has many, many advantages. Firstly, of course, if you donate in Germany,
It is also interesting for many people to receive a donation receipt
so that they can easily deduct it from their taxes.
And on the other hand, it is important to know how the money gets to Ghana, also legally,
because nowadays an international bank transfer is no longer as easy as it used to be,
for promoting terrorism and smuggling and drug trafficking and so on.
Exactly, we have registered the organization in Ghana and that is the basis for all our work on site.
It is also about being able to live legally in the country, as we now
for example, builds schools, kindergartens, hospitals and things like that,
They have to be legally registered locally . You can
Even here in Germany, we cannot simply go and say,
so, now I always need a house there, you need a
You have to have a building permit, you have to have the land, everything has to be registered.
And that is also the case in Ghana. Because we are registered in Ghana with the so-called Register General,
In Ghana we can work as a legal entity with the official authorities.
This means that it is not only a Bettiner who privately likes to
I want to get involved with Victor as a private person and do something good,
but because we are registered, we can be exempted from the state
for example, receive funding, in the form of land, for example.
But what is very important is also in the form of personnel.
This means that if we open schools, hospitals, kindergartens,
carry out any projects where you will need staff later,
then we can get it legitimately from the state, from the Garnay state. So if the money is in the state...
If I may interrupt now , well, it is basically like this, you
If you build a school there, you will of course need teachers
and then it is the case that in other organizations, it is often the case that you then have to
Donations pot that teachers would have to pay through the organization,
which is not the case with Malamfo, but that they come from the state and are paid for by the state.
I understood that correctly.
Precisely.
That's great.
So you don't need any more donations afterwards , because that's what the project does...
First of all, this puts you on a secure footing that you can
tries to make everything as independent as possible from any further donations.
So that is one of our core concerns, as I talked about in the first episode.
People know exactly what they need and how they want to achieve it.
The resources are simply lacking. We get them in the form of donations to our donation account in Germany.
Then I transfer it from the donation account in Germany to the donation account in Ghana.
It can also arrive there officially legitimate because it is a registered donation.
In Germany , for example, the Bundesbank is also looking
when transferring funds to a so-called third country,
which is not EU now, it is not EU, of course.
When that arrives, we'll look at what it's being used for.
I then have to fill out certain forms that show exactly what the money will be used for.
In this case, for example, for kindergarten.
As you rightly said, follow-up financing is secured because it is not needed at all.
Because the running costs are then borne by the Gane state, for example in the form of personnel,
but also in standing position.
That is, well, that is really a great thing, because we are back on the topic,
that we only want to employ our own people from Ghana and not just any people from abroad,
or which would be much more expensive, or would require further donations,
so that the kindergarten or school or whatever can be kept running.
But that it is then simply concluded with this one-time donation.
Exactly. There is one project that is an exception.
This is our project against child slavery at Lake Volta.
We have a children's shelter in Ho in the Volta region.
And that is what we do.
This is about human rights.
So this is a project that is very diverse.
I don't want to say complicated, it isn't.
It is very complex.
I think that's the right word for it.
And this children’s home, so that we know exactly who is looking after the children,
which children's home parents are employed there and so on, we run it completely,
but in cooperation with the Gane government.
They are then, so to speak, how do you say it in German, they are called Social Welfare Officers,
So social officer, so social worker, social worker is the word I was missing.
Exactly. They are then provided by the state, for example, and work with us there.
But the other projects we just mentioned
That's very important, they then pay for themselves afterwards.
So with a well, for example, the village organizes itself and makes a small cash register
and the donations then for example the local church association or if something has to be kept,
a collection is made.
We have helped with a well again in the year 2024, now in 23 years
and that was the first well in Apewu, because it is right at the bottom inside the well.
I don't know, I don't know by heart, in 70, 80
Meter depth the complete rod broke after 15 years
and we helped out because the villagers couldn't do it on their own.
Is clear.
Yes, but otherwise it is exactly as you describe.
The question that comes to mind now is how easy is it
then, so by now, how was it probably easy?
But then always convincing the state and saying, we are now building in the Brong Ahafo region
or in the Ashanti region a kindergarten
and we would now like to have three teachers, because there are three classrooms
and the children have to be taught somehow.
Let's say, hey, I think it's great that you 're doing this, great, you're taking work off our hands, we don't have any money anyway,
but of course we take care of the teachers , that's clear, it's a great cooperation
Or is it rather the case that it is more difficult to convince them to hire teachers?
Yes, as you rightly say, after so many years
We are of course well known in the truest sense of the word.
Just because they know us and they also know that we
are a reliable partner , it is not a problem at all.
But I have to say that this was not a problem for us from the beginning, because we have a certain procedure,
Maybe we'll give it another time, otherwise we'll just get lost here somehow,
We have a specific approach to how we develop projects.
If they are then on the, let's say on the minister's table or on the regional director's table,
then he already has a complete overview of what we want to do.
Of course, we, for example the village population, have already done some preparatory work.
And once he has that on the table, it's no problem.
Especially at the regional level, so how can you compare that with us, for example at the municipal council level,
So either the city or the municipality, you're knocking on open doors,
because they of course absolutely want these projects , and are often also applicants,
have also often turned to us with the village community,
about this particular project, for example the school or something,
to get it in your city, in your community.
You have to, and I would like to go into this again , keep both sides in mind.
On the one hand, it is us who have the resources and want to implement ourselves,
but of course the local authorities also have people, I would say,
who want to do something out of motivation, which is fine,
but then don't do it.
And that is natural, it is a give and take, so give and take from both sides.
There are so many local, I would say, unfortunately I can only think of the English word,
a Christine Hilfmimmer, Officer, what are the authorities called?
Officials, stupid word, help me.
Yes, but not for marital relations.
Employees, let’s say, employees from the authority for example,
who is now responsible for personnel in the region,
they also get suggestions or something from someone else on the table
and you wouldn’t believe how often we go somewhere,
where huge promises were made by some people,
but it is not carried through.
And of course that is totally frustrating for them
and for the villagers too, yes, if any promises are made
and this reputation, I would say , is something we have simply earned,
because we never do anything we can't finish.
We always make sure that we have the full donation amount together
and then we start, because otherwise it is also for the villagers...
You already know that it is not that nice anymore,
but how is it, so can the, let's say, from the community decide that?
Ah yes, now comes Madamfo Ghana, oh, we already know her,
from another project or something, they need staff there now
and then the person in this community decides, yes, let's do it, I'll send them there,
I somehow know how to send it there
or does he have to submit an application again in Accra
or at the district and then the district again in Accra at the government
and then it takes forever, because I actually had the impression
that everything always works quite quickly, yes, so the money gets there,
In three months the school will be ready and then we'll get started.
So it actually goes relatively quickly.
What is the decision-making process like?
Exactly, so you would just have to take a look at the structures on site.
There are the so-called assemblymen, who are the elected government representatives of the village
and they work together with the District Assembly
and that is something that I would say you can translate as a local councillor.
And this municipal council is then supported by the various directors for education,
Health and so on and then there is the so-called DCE,
This is the District Chief Executive Officer, who is appointed directly by the President in Ghana
and he can decide.
And as I said, it is that, well, we don't show up and it's already finished,
There is some preparatory work that we can perhaps discuss at some point.
A lot has already happened in the background.
We don't present them with a fait accompli, so to speak, but there are also a lot of agreements made.
But hand in hand, you know, and on site with the people
and then of course you have a completely different reach.
Is clear.
And then of course it is the case that the next time you have to deal with the same thing again,
then of course he says to himself, oh that worked out great with this and that project
and then of course we'll do it again with Madamfo Ghana.
That is of course clear.
Now another question.
So if I now, what do I know, I just take 100 euros,
I donate in Germany for Madamfo Ghana
and you also have, if you calculate with the tip of a pencil,
There are always some administrative costs, that's clear.
How high are they?
Or how much of my 100 euros will ultimately reach the project?
Because in part, well, in Germany the law allows you to pay 30 percent for administration.
That was also an argument that now connects me with an organization,
who thinks on this scale, wanted to work together.
And for you it is less, but how much is it approximately?
We, our goal is always 10 percent.
So if you get a cost estimate, for example,
then there is always a column at the bottom.
So our cost estimates, for example,
which everyone who is now carrying out a project, for example, also receives.
You probably remember it, you got it too.
Great, excellent, everything prepared.
Let's list, sometimes I have to look for the words in German.
Exactly, we just list the items that need to be done.
So we list how many bags of cement were broken for the school,
how many loads of sand, how many loads of stones, how many boxes, nails and so on.
And then there is also a column for monitoring and evaluation.
And those are the costs that you just mentioned, administrative costs.
Because I can understand that totally well.
The question is, what will such money really be used for?
in the end spent on what?
Maybe I can give a few examples to make it clearer.
So I have the Fischer family, Christine, she would like to build a kindergarten.
Then of course I have to be an employee or one of our employees
goes to the region and takes a look at it.
Once he has done that and we are sure,
that this is really needed then project,
then someone has to report on this project.
For this we have an administrator who collects all the information
and then prepares it in a Word document.
This must then be sent to the donor.
Then the money has to be transferred. That all costs money.
So some things just can't be avoided at all.
And what is always important to me, what you simply have to consider,
You have to do things like this, which we have already mentioned several times,
They are all locals.
And for me, if we get people into work,
So if we can get them the job with the training they have done
and then they can feed their families,
then this family no longer needs any donations.
So they will never become dependent in any way.
They then have no reason
except perhaps for a personal motivation to leave the country
and make their way through the desert towards Europe.
If you have your own livelihood, i.e. are doing an apprenticeship,
as a nurse, for example, and you can work somewhere,
This is the best help for me.
And then it depends on how you take the definition,
If you have someone like that, a social worker for example,
who works for us at Lake Volta with the local police,
who works with Social Welfare , i.e. in the Ministry of Social Affairs
and then here the children who are sold to the fishermen are rescued from the lake,
then this would probably fall under administrative costs,
because he gets paid for it.
Personally, I don’t see it that way,
because it does exactly what we want.
So he saves children, his own, he comes from Ghana,
he has his own income and can support his family.
So you may have to open this lens a little bit wider sometimes
and look at what these things are simply spent on.
And I notice that when it comes to these, I'll call them additional costs,
in different ways they are when it comes to
then our donors are always happy,
if they then complete such a project
and then see a very detailed cost estimate.
And sometimes, when we work with larger organizations,
then sometimes they say, yes, but you don't really want to take on that
and my argument is we are, okay, I understand,
but what is better now that I really buy the stone for this school
and the wooden board for the roof and the corrugated iron for the roof,
these are then no additional costs,
but I also needed someone to take the photos for me.
Otherwise we can't prove it.
So I see the school, I can go there locally.
So I think we have already got a little insight into
how it works if I donate here, how does it get there
and what happens to it.
And then, I think, in the next episode,
then it is time for us to take a look
How then do the kindergartens come to Brunnen
or whatever project is being realized,
to a village where it is needed.
So he says to the village, hello, here I am, I would like
or Madamfo Ghana comes to the village and says you need
or you don't want anything.
So what does it look like?
And I think we might discuss that in our next episode
could tell you a little bit, or what do you think, Bettina?
Yes, that's a good idea, exactly.
We've already scratched a little bit at that.
I think that's a great idea, we'll do it next time.
Then maybe you can go into it a little more,
where exactly the Gäler are spent,
because this is very important to us,
that we can understand what and how things happen on site.
Exactly, I think that's a great idea, we can do that.
Yes, great, so then dear ones, stay loyal and well-disposed towards us,
Write to us what interests you or what we can do better
and otherwise we'll see or hear each other in our next episode.
All the best, bye!
Bye dear ones, bye!