Acting director of the African Center for Disease Control (CDC), Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, on Saturday, October 15, said he was forced to return back home after being mistreated by airport officials in Frankfurt, Germany. The Africa CDC boss was due to attend the World Health Summit slated for Sunday, October 16, in Germany when he experienced the ordeal. Despite receiving an invitation and visa to attend the summit, immigration officials at the airport reportedly accused him of being in the country illegally and subsequently blocked his entry. “I was mistreated at Frankfurt airport by immigration officers who think I want to stay illegally. My participation in the World Health Summit is now in doubt. I am happier and safer at home in Africa. They invite you and then they mistreat you, Ouma said in a tweet. “It’s time for me to stay away from unfriendly areas. Very irritated. I’m ready! German Foreign Ministry,” he added. Frankfurt Airport also took to Twitter to apologize and at the same time denounced any discrimination against passengers in response to its allegations. “As an international airport, we welcome all passengers and do not tolerate any form of discrimination or racism. We would like more information about this incident,” the airport said in a response to a tweet. The World Health Summit also responded to the matter, urging interested parties to facilitate the entry of the CDC director into Germany. In addition, it urged authorities to respect African delegates traveling to attend the summit. “We consider Dr Ogwell’s situation to be very worrying and we hope the situation clears up soon. The voice and expertise of Dr. Ogwell and that of the African Center of Disease Control (CDC) are paramount and essential to the World Health Summit,” reads a response tweet by WHO summit organisers. CDC, an autonomous body of the African Union, was one of the stakeholders invited to share insights at the summit scheduled for tomorrow. Frankfurt Airport also responded to Ogwell apologising for the incident and asked him to lodge a formal complaint.
