This homepage is under construction

General informationsGeneral Information about Tomo-Ni e.V. and the Orphanage in Obomeng / Ghana.

In the past

Foundation of the Association.
In the earliest nineties of the last century the association has been founded in Bremen, Germany, and recognised as a Non Government Organisation ( NGO ).The status is an association in the public interest.
The founder, Mr. Gerald Besser , being himself an orphan, wanted to give back a part of what he received from unknown people during his childhood.
From the early beginning the members of the association decided to set up an orphanage somewhere in a developing country. The final choice felt on Ghana. Therefore the preferable aim of the association was to collect funds for this purpose.
Children’s home Tomo-Ni in Obomeng.
Soon after the association had been founded, a Ghanaian journalist from Obomeng in the Kwahu area temporarily living in Germany, joined Tomo-Ni as a member. This journalist introduced
Mr. Besser to the Chief of Obomeng, Nana Akrofi.
In Ghana all land is stool land belonging to one of Ghana’s a kingdoms and can not be owned by a foreigner. A Chief can decide to let a particular area on long term lease to foreigners. So he did for Tomo-Ni.
After long negotiations regarding the area and the price an agreement had been reached.
Tomo-Ni got an area of about two square kilometres for 50 years on a long term lease and had to pay the lease fees in advance. A geometer produced a map of the location and marked the exact border lines. The agreement than was signed from both parties in front of a lawyer. After this procedure Mr. Besser paid the amount of 19.000 DM in the name of Tomo-Ni. The today’s value is about 9.500 €, equivalent to about 125 million Ghanaian Cedis.
Due to technical reasons ( the Ghanaian NGO was not yet registered ) the long term lease for the area in question is registered in the name of Mr. Gerald Besser.
Construction of the Orphanage.
At spring 1997 the construction for the sleeping tract, the central area (2 floors) and the office and kitchen tract started. The bricks for all the buildings were manufactured at site and the mason work was executed by local workers.
End of 1997 the building was completed for occupancy. Since than and without
interruption until now 16 to 19 children have been living in it. It’s their home since then.
Financial Efforts of the Association.
All expenses for the construction of the building as well as expenses for salaries, running cost for the home, foodstuff for the home children and employees, health care for both, guiding of the children day and night, and school fees are paid by Tomo-Ni Germany.

Expenses for construction: appr. 60.000 €
Expenses (travel, transport, vehicles) appr. 15.000 €
Expenses for running cost during 9 years: (1998 until 2006) appr. 155.000 €
Fundraising.
The mentioned amounts have been donated from private persons in shares of 25 € or 50 € per month. Sometimes bigger amounts were donated from school classes after a run for help in favour of Tomo-Ni, or donated from companies.
Monthly Expenses.
Without any money for renovation or for buying necessary things for the home, the monthly expenses which have to be paid for running cost amount up to 1.400 €.