Features
Steve Ntim: The irresistible choice (Part 1)
As political parties in Ghana advance along the path of establishing themselves as democratic institutions, the individual parties are all working hard to ensure internal election of their officers before contesting the next general elections in 2024.
At the moment, it is the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that has organised internal elections for its members. Various positions have been contested in the different constituencies at the zonal, constituency and national levels. Some of the positions are constituency secretaries, regional youth organisers, regional chairmen and their respective first and second vice positions regarding some of the positions.
HOT CONTEST
The contest within the NPP is a hot one for all the positions. As the party moves forward, national elections will also be held for National Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer and so on. After all this, a flagbearer will also be elected to lead the party in the next presidential election in 2024.
For now, we are focusing on who becomes the National Chairman for the NPP. This position is very important and it is being contested by a number of candidates and each of them is known in terms of their respective competence and organisational abilities.
The point must be made, however, that even though they all qualify to become National Chairman, it is only one of them who stands tall among them. This person is the man known as Stephen Ayesu Ntim.
HIS TRAITS
Mr. Stephen Ayesu Ntim is well known in the party as a mature and competent person whose commitment to the ideals of the party is beyond doubt. He has contested for the position over the years but without success and many people, unlike him, would have given up long ago to contest for the position again.
His commitment and desire to come on board to help in controlling the affairs in the party has encouraged him to stay on. There are many people in the party who after losing internal elections or are unhappy with certain things immediately announce to members of the NPP that they have left the party. Leaving the party on such grounds is not a matured way of presenting oneself to delegates and other members of the party to again contest elections after they have been persuaded to come back to the party.
In the case of Stephen Ntim, he has proved to be a matured person when it comes to remaining loyal and also exhibiting maturity even in the midst of loss in internal elections. It is for this reason that members of the party has great respect and support for him.
SUPPORT FOR EVERYONE
This man has made pronouncements that he supports everyone who would want to contest for the presidential candidate slot in the party. Once again, he has exhibited maturity in this direction since taking sides with any of the candidates can prove disastrous in terms of potential and actual disunity.
He also believes in the principle of free contest for all. For him, anyone who wants to contest for any position ought to be allowed to do so.
It is his intention to unify the party and make it possible for all and sundry to voice out their feelings in line with the democratic aspirations of the NPP. He is not a dictator and is a respecter of all persons. For this reason he must be given the opportunity to serve as a noble National Chairman of this great party.
COMMITMENT TO PRINCIPLES
Stephen Ntim stands for the principle of fair play as well as respect for all persons within the party irrespective of levels. He is of the firm belief that since it is party that gives birth to government, the government machinery should never look down on party supporters. This is why he is coming out with a very strong strategy to unite all fronts and ensure that the NPP is able to break the eight-year cycle that has characterised the reigns of governments in Ghana since 1993 when the political dispensation in this country began. In 2020, certain things did not go well for the party not because the government did not perform but simply because of bickerings and division within the party.
In an interview with him, he has made it clear that all factions within the NPP need to come together as a strong force in order to break the eight-year cycle in grand style.
COMMITMENT TO UNITY AND PROGRESS
He has made it clear that, inspite of the economic challenges going on around the world, an unfortunate development that has affected Ghana, he will be resolute in his determination to collaborate with the various segments within the party in both the rural and urban areas to establish unparalleled victory for his beloved party.
In conclusion, therefore, the party delegates and members ought to support no other person but Mr. Stephen Ayesu Ntim who stands for nothing but fair play, fairness, respect for each other, unique party progress, dynamism and victory in grand style. If this is what the NPP stands for, then the obvious and irresistible choice is Mr. Ayesu Ntim.
By Dr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
Conflict at work is more common than you might think. According to 2022 research by The Myers-Briggs Company, more than a third of the workforce reports dealing with conflict often, very often, or all the time in the workplace. The same report found that managers spend an average of four hours per week dealing with conflict, and nearly 25 per cent of people think their managers handle conflict poorly or very poorly.
Addressing a dispute might feel tense or awkward, but resolving the conflict is typically well worth it in the long run. Whether you’re trying to mediate conflict between colleagues or are directly involved, here are seven steps you can take to manage workplace conflict.
1. Don’t put it off
Facing conflict head-on is hard. However, waiting too long to address it can negatively impact your emotional well-being, focus, and the entire office environment. If you’re feeling angry, letting that emotion fester can also escalate it over time. This can make you less responsive to other points of view and make it harder to resolve the issue.
The sooner you can address the conflict, the better it will be for you, the person you disagree with, and your entire team.
2. Learn all you can about the problem
It’s important to determine the type of conflict you’re dealing with. Begin by considering the cause of the conflict. For example, ask yourself whether someone said something that upset you or if you have emotions of anger and resentment that stemmed from something that happened.
Then try to identify if it’s a task, relationship, value, or team conflict. Once you know what type of conflict it is, you can work to resolve it with specific tactics for that situation.
If you skip this step, you may waste time or escalate the situation further by trying to address issues irrelevant to the real conflict.
3. Actively listen
Listen attentively when people share their side of the story. Active listening is one of the most valuable professional skills you can possess. This type of listening involves not only hearing what the other person is saying but also listening to understand their point of view.
No matter your role in conflict, it’s easy to begin sharing your opinion with little regard for the other people involved. However, it’s important to learn about all sides of a disagreement to make well-informed decisions before drawing conclusions.
To reach a resolution, you must step back and prioritize listening over talking. Ultimately, that will encourage the other person to do the same when it’s your turn to speak. –source: betterup.com
Today, I focus on the Temple Of Praise Ministries International (TOP Church) in Helsinki, as I continue my description of personalities or institutions and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland.
The TOP Church in Finland has seen significant strides and accomplishments that must be made known to the public. 
Some history
The Church was established in Finland in September 2016. Since its inception, it has steadily grown both spiritually and numerically, by the grace of God, as disclosed to me by Mr Matthew Anini Twumasi, the Presiding Elder of TOP’s branch in Finland. The TOP Church has other branches across Africa, Europe, and America.
The Church in Finland was founded with a vision to create a welcoming and dynamic community where people could experience God’s love and grace (see, www.topchurchfinland.org). According to Presiding Elder Matthew, the TOP Church operates within a unique environment where Christianity coexists with what is seen as a largely secular society.
Despite this, he submits, there are significant opportunities for outreach, unity, and demonstrating the love of Christ through service and community engagement.
Activities
Church services at the TOP Church are typically held on Sundays for the main worship. In addition, there are mid-week prayer sessions, Saturday prayer services, and a half-night service held on the last Friday of every month. “We also organise quarterly programs”, Elder Matthew added.
His impression of the Church so far has been positive. “It is a vibrant and welcoming community where members are committed to worship, fellowship, and supporting one another in faith”, he stated.
In sum, Elder Matthew said the Church continues to grow by God’s grace. “We remain hopeful and committed to spreading the Gospel, strengthening the faith of our members, and making a positive impact in society”, he continued.
Achievements
The TOP Church has a number of achievements and achievements. Some of the strengths include strong community bonds, cultural diversity, and deep commitment to spiritual growth.
I also remember that during the COVID-19 period, I heard that the TOP Church was one such bodies that hugely supported its members and others to cope with the situation.
According to Elder Matthew, the challenges facing the church include “adapting to cultural differences, engaging the younger generation, expanding outreach in a secular society, and securing a permanent place of worship”.
Role in the Ghanaian community in Finland
The TOP Church plays a prominent role as a religious group that serves Ghanaian migrants and others in the Finnish society.
Thus, the TOP Church is a religious body for Ghanaian migrants in Finland and other nationalities who want to worship with them for diversity and better intercultural and multicultural understanding.
The Church also has mechanisms in place to support its members who are bereaved as a way to commiserate with them in times of death and funerals.
The Ghanaian community has played a vital role in the growth of the Church. Their strong sense of fellowship, dedication to worship, and active participation have helped build a solid foundation and attract others to the ministry, according to Elder Matthew.
Integration
By its activities, the TOP Church is helping to ensure integration of its members well into the Finish society.
This is important since social interaction and citizens’ well-being are an important part of the integration process.
The role of migrant associations and groups such as TOP Church acting as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision making process and by acting as a representative voice is highly appreciated in Finland. Thank you!
GHANA MATTERS column appears fortnightly. Written in simple, layman’s terms, it concentrates on matters about Ghana and beyond. It focuses on everyday life issues relating to the social, cultural, economic, religious, political, health, sports, youth, gender, etc. It strives to remind us all that Ghana comes first. The column also takes a candid look at the meanings and repercussions of our actions, especially those things we take for granted or even ignore. There are key Ghanaian values we should uphold rather than disregard with impunity. We should not overlook the obvious. We need to search for the hidden or deeply embedded values and try to project them.
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
