This page is dedicated to my ongoing search for my half-brother.

My half-brother was born with the birth name Michael Meineke on September 23, 1960 in Wuppertal Elberfeld; his and my biological mother was Ingeburg Meineke, born in Bremen.

After the death of my brother in 2024 and my mother in 2025, the half-brother I have been searching for is now my closest living relative – which makes this search even more important to me.

I only learned of his existence in 2022/23 through deep conversations with my brother. It was our shared wish – and my brother’s final wish – to find him.

I would much like to know whether he is still alive, to know if he is okay and where he is. I certainly do not want to impose myself on him.
Anyone who has searched for family members knows how emotionally and time-consuming such a search can be.

Perhaps one day I will be able to tell him about myself and our shared roots, and – if he wishes – help him find his paternal side.

Please keep your fingers crossed for me and think of me, because everything said and done eventually goes around the world.

That’s how I ought to find him, isn’t it?

Thank you for your attention.

Johannes Duve

 

Birth certificate and registration office Wuppertal / previous efforts and inquiries

This is the Wuppertal registration card, which confirms that my half-brother emigrated from Wuppertal to Accra (Ghana) on 18 January 1962 together with his adoptive parents, or that they returned to their existing residence there.

The names of the adoptive parents are unknown. An adoption decree could not be found either privately or in the archives of family courts, regional courts, the youth welfare office, Civil Registry Office 1, churches, social welfare organisations or any other institutions.

Despite extensive research (passenger lists from Bremen/Hamburg to Accra, inquiries with airlines, registration office inquiries, archives in Accra, German Embassy in Accra, Youth Welfare Office Wuppertal, Catholic Social Services / Caritas, among others), all inquiries have so far been unsuccessful.

At this point, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all individuals at home and abroad who have supported me for their time, assistance and sympathy.