LIVING IN GERMANY

Voters in Germany will elect a new federal parliament, the Bundestag, on Sunday, 26 September. 60.4 million people are entitled to vote. An estimated twelve percent of them, about 7.4 million people, have a migration background. A new study shows why this minority group could decide the winner of the election even though their issues hardly play a role in …

Germans will go to the polls on 26 September 2021 to vote for a new Bundestag, the lower house of the federal parliament, which is elected every four years by free, secret and direct ballot. A special report by The African Courier on the election: ——— The BundestagThe Bundestag is the elected representation of the German people. And being vested …

The General Consulate of Nigeria in Frankfurt has announced its resumption of processing of passport. In a press release published on its website, the consulate said: “This is to notify all passport applicants that processing of passport has resumed at the Consulate General of Nigeria in Frankfurt.Applicants are requested to send all required application documents via Email: nis.frankfurt@gmail.com.Appointment date and …

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has praised the families of Turkish immigrants as an important part of Germany. A Germany without the so-called guest workers, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren would be “simply inconceivable” today, Steinmeier said on Friday at an event to mark the 60th anniversary of the German-Turkish recruitment agreement in Berlin. They and immigrants from other countries had contributed …

As the campaign for Germany’s general election on 26 September hots up, a leader in the Nigerian community in Germany has spoken out in support of Olaf Scholz, the chancellor candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). In an interview with the Africa Service of German international broadcaster DW, Kenneth Gbandi, a former president of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Germany, …

New laws and administrative regulations enter into effect in September. Among these are those affecting the national identity card, registration for unemployment, parental allowance, energy-saving lamps and a tool to help you make the right choice at the coming general election. The African Courier summarises what will be important for you to know. ———— Identity card (Personalausweis) on the smartphone: …

Kingsley Ogbebor, who works as a VIP chauffeur for an executive passenger transport company in Berlin, had a road accident in January. He was driving a brand-new Mercedes 500S Class belonging to his company when the car skidded off the snowy and icy road in Neubrandenburg, somersaulted and finally landed on its roof. Pastor T. Adisa (left) and Elder Kingsley …

Germans head to the polls on 26 September to vote in an election that will determine the successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel. DW breaks down the Bundestag election process. Germany has a notoriously complex voting system for electing its Bundestag — the lower house of parliament. The system seeks to combine the benefits of both direct and proportional representation while guarding …

Organisations representing people with a migration background are calling for radical legislative solutions to improve their representation in public institutions. They have now presented a draft for a federal participation law …… The Federal Conference of Migrant Organisations (Bundeskonferenz der Migrantenorganisationen, BKMO) has called on the next federal government to enforce the equal participation of immigrants in society by law. …

The population in Germany is stagnating and the number of workers is decreasing. To avoid a labour shortage in the future, Germany needs about 400,000 immigrants per year, according to Detlef Scheele, head of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit). Due to demographic developments, the number of potential workers of typical working age is already decreasing by almost 150,000 …

Saturday, 21 August was a historic day in the African community in the Berlin district of Spandau. For the first time members of the community invited candidates for a general election to address them and listen to their views. The event, organised by the Afro-Deutsche Group Spandau, provided a unique opportunity for African residents to interact with candidates running on …

As the general elections in Germany draw nearer, different groups in the polity are mobilising their members to support their preferred parties and candidates. Africans are not left out of the trend as some of them will gather on Saturday 21 August to interact with SPD candidates in Berlin Spandau and present their wish list. —– A group is mobilising …

Nursing care is very critical to Germany’s health care sector due principally to the country‘s aging society. Carers help people who are physically or psychologically incapable of taking care of themselves on an everyday basis to live as independently and autonomously as possible and in dignity, despite their limitations. And the importance of the care industry will continue to grow …

ANNOUNCEMENT Nigerians In Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Germany has kicked off its familiarization tour of Nigerian businesses, social enterprises and cultural organisations in Germany. Accompanied by our Project Officer, Mazi Obiora Nweke, the President, Mr Femi Awoniyi, on Monday called on Bruder Hilfe Social Development Initiative e.V., whose founder and director is a long-time member of NIDO Germany and a current …

Train drivers will go on a three-day strike from Wednesday (11 August), the German Train Drivers’ Union (GDL) has confirmed. The strike will affect regional and long-distance trains all over the country. The GDL is demanding a wage increase of 3.2 per cent for employees and a 600-euro corona bonus for the current year in the collective bargaining dispute with …

Maisha – African Women in Germany e.V. has launched an information and awareness campaign on Covid-19 in Germany’s African community. The campaign ‘Information and Awareness Raising on Covid-19 – Model Project for African Migrants in Germany’ was launched on Sunday (8 August) in Frankfurt. The event took place at the New Covenant Assemblies after the Sunday worship session of the …

Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany, HE Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has called on the executive committee of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Germany (NIDOG) to discharge its duties “in good faith and continue the good work of championing the welfare and interests of Nigerians in Germany”. The ambassador made the call in a congratulatory message he sent to the President of NIDOG, …

There are many legal changes entering into effect in August, including new rules for holiday returnees and a controversial ID card requirement. There is also good news for low-income families and all those who are obliged to file a tax return. The African Courier summarises what will be important for you to know. ——– Compulsory testing for travellers returning to …

As Germany comes to grips with the vast devastation and loss of life caused by the worst floods in decades, the government has offered more than €300 million in aid including help for infrastructure and small businesses. Speaking to newspaper Bild am Sonntag, German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said he would propose a package of immediate aid at a cabinet meeting …

Very soon, digital fingerprinting will be mandatory in German ID cards. The question is: Will it make the cards more secure? Or is it an invasive threat to our freedom? Nina Werkhäuser and Esther Felden of DW examine the issue in this special report —— “It was a really creepy feeling,” says data protection activist Leena Simon, describing the moment …