In what would be his first Town Hall meeting with Ghanaians resident in the Netherlands, H.E. Dr. Tony Aidoo met with Ghanaians resident in the Amsterdam area, in what was considered the most frank, down to earth, interaction of an Ambassador with Ghanaians in the country to which he/she is designated to.

His agenda was to avail himself to Ghanaians in the Netherlands, and try to understand some of the challenges, hidden talents and even grievances citizens of our country have or hold in respect to their stay in the host country as well as their views and opinions on what is happening in Ghana. The Town Hall meeting was attended by a large cross-section of the various Ghanaian groupings , organizations, churches and individuals in Amsterdam- Netherlands, who were given the opportunity to meet His Excellency and the Embassy of Ghana in the Netherlands staff. Subsequent Town Hall meetings would also be held in other major cities of the Netherlands i.e. The Hague, Rotterdam, Eindhoven etc .

In the open forum, Ghanaians living in the Amsterdam area, drew the attention of the Embassy to some of the major challenges facing them in regards to how they feel they are treated as foreigners when they travel back home, and have to deal with immigration issues, customs & exercise issues , and other bureaucratic challenges that may face the average Ghanaian in Ghana, as well as some challenges with the Embassy staff at the Ghana Embassy in the Netherlands and the Netherlands Embassy in Accra – Ghana.

H.E. Dr. Tony Aidoo, highlighted the need for all Ghanaians both home and abroad to stand up against any form of corruption, and to educate themselves with the laws of the our beloved country Ghana, so that in an event where we feel our basic human rights are being violated , we know the proper channels in the structure of governance that can assist in addressing the issue or challenge to the satisfaction of our individual needs. He stated that under his watch, he ensures that the ‘customer is treated as king/queen’ as long as he or she in in the premises of the Embassy and that everyone should feel at ease to reach out to his office. He was applauded by all and sundry, and everyone wished him well in his stay as Ghana’s Ambassador to the Netherlands. The local NPP sympathizers stayed away from the gathering for reasons best known to them, however Dr. Tony Aidoo categorically stated that he was here for all Ghanaians and not into the business of bi-partisan collaboration, he promised to work to ensure that Ghanaians living in the Netherlands are abreast with development in Ghana, as well as assist in ensuring that Ghanaians in the Netherlands are well taken care of under the parameters of his duty as Ambassador to the Netherlands.

Press release: 17th June 2014

A. Dodoo Interim Chairperson NDC AMSTERDAM NDC.Amsterdam.Holland@gmail.com