Batting for Ghana in Windhoek: Africans abroad have been complaining for years that their embassies do not sufficiently look after them, but things might be changing for the better if the performances of some of the new-breed African ambassadors are any guide.

As the Roman, in days of old, held himself free from indignity, when he could say Civis Romanus sum, so also a British subject, in whatever land he may be, shall feel confident that the watchful eye and the strong arm of England will protect him against injustice and wrong." So said the British prime minister, Lord Palmerston, in 1856.

This is how many Africans abroad have also felt. In whatever country they may be, they want to feel confident that "the watchful eye and the strong arm" of their embassies will protect them against injustice and wrong.

Sadly, this has always been lacking, making Africans quite vulnerable in foreign lands. But things might be changing. In July last year, when I interviewed the Ghanaian ambassador in Prague (Czech Republic), Her Excellency Veronica Sharon Boakye Kufuor (see NA, Sept 2002), she was clear about what her job was:

"When I came here," she said, "the first thing I did on my first day at work was to ask about the Ghanaian community here, because the president had told us in Accra, when he was giving us our letters of credence, that the next important thing dearest to his heart was the Ghanaian community abroad. 'You are there for them,' he told us, 'You are there not just to look for investments, you are there for the Ghanaian community in your area, after all they also help in a big way to ginger up the economy back home, by sending money, investment and other things. So your mission is their home, you are their mothers and fathers and everything.'

"So the first thing I did when I arrived here was to look for the Ghanaian community and how best we could help them if they needed help. When I met some of them after presenting my papers, I told them this residence was their home. The mission was their office. Any problems, they should fed flee to phone or come to the mission with all their needs."

The Nigerian ambassador in Prague, Her Excellency Julie Jake Ayorinde, made similar remarks in another interview. The two envoys were broadly supported by their nationals in Prague, who said both women were fine ambassadors and that they were proud of them.

Somewhere in Southern Africa, there is also a fine ambassador, also a woman, representing Ghana in Windhoek and Gaborone. Her Excellency Maureen Amematekpor has won the hearts of the Ghanaian communities in both Namibia (and Botswana where she is also accredited) with her humanity, humility and sense of duty. especially her desire to go the extra mile to make Ghanaian nationals feel comfortable in the countries of her accreditation.

She and her deputy high commissioner in Windhoek, Henry Techie-Menson, have won high praise from the Ghanaian community When I was in Windhoek in mid-September, both the ambassador and her deputy did everything to make me feel at home away from home. And not only me. Ghanaian exhibitors at the Windhoek trade Fair were equally effusive in their praise for the ambassador and her deputy.

Before I arrived at the fair, the diplomats had gone to the Ghanaian stands to make sure all was well. And it was a Sunday! Not a working day.

Said one of the Ghanaian exhibitors, Mrs Beatrice Yeboah: "Her Excellency is the kind of ambassador we've been waiting for, for decades. I live in Windhoek, and any time I have needed the help of the Ghanaian embassy, I have freely and promptly received it."

Mrs Yeboah's colleague, Josephine Agyarko who runs the famous House of Damaris fashion label in Accra, and who had flown to Windhoek for the fair, agreed: "I have nothing but praise for Ambassador Amematekpor and her deputy Mr Techie-Menson. They have been here ,already this morning to make sure we are fine. Some ambassadors I know would not even pick up the phone on a Sunday, but Her Excellency has personally come here to check that we are comfortable. We are proud of her."

The ambassador and her staff in Windhoek really deserve praise. When I drew her attention to the affection that the community has for her and her staff, the ,ambassador simply said: "Oh, it's our job. We are here to look after the interests of our country and its citizens. Our job is not only to look for investments but also to ensure that Ghanaian here have consular and other protection."

Mrs Beatrice Yeboah, a fashion designer of sound repute, has been in the business since 1972. She moved to Windhoek six years ago where she owns a designing shop and employs four workers.

"My aim is to bring traditional West African fashion to the people of Namibia and beyond", she told New African. "You know, the type of colonialism in these parts did not encourage the retention of traditional fashions. People here are so much into Western clothes, and I want to break that chain by giving them something uniquely African. My clientele now curs across the broad swathe of society, and includes members of parliament and the high and mighty of Namibia. I dress them all. I am now thinking of expanding to the European market."

Business is equally good for Josephine Agyarko who lives in Ghana bur has two shops in Namibia and others in Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Her House of Damaris fashion label is very popular in Ghana. It has blossomed in recent years on the wings of the "President's Business Initiative"--a system put in place when President John Kufuor came to power three years ago to help small and medium-scale businesses grow.

Ms Agyarko has been exhibiting at the Windhoek fair since 1995. She also employs four Namibians. Though she lives in Ghana, she travels to Southern Africa every two months to oversee her businesses in the region.

According to the deputy high commissioner. Henry Techie-Menson, it is the aim and duty of the High Commission to help such Ghanaian businesses to establish themselves in Namibia and throughout the region. "It is good for Ghana, it is good for Africa, and it is good for African unity and solidarity," he added.

The traditional clothing industry, especially West African fashion, has a bright future in the SADC region, Techie-Menson said, adding that the High Commission was keen to act as a bridge to the region for Ghanaian exports and also cultural exchanges.

"With the blessing of the ambassador who is even keener than some of us, I think we will succeed in helping Ghanaian businesses find a foothold in this region," the deputy high commissioner said.