Features
Dangers of passive permission and relaxing principles
Negativity yields no positive results
Continually there comes before us the question of tolerance. Men, after all, are individuals, and none thinks alike, otherwise we would find ourselves in hopeless friction and fighting without sincere tolerance to allow the give-and-take of living side by side with differing ideas and people.
There should be no tolerance for intolerance. However, there are some things that do not deserve tolerance. There should be no tolerance for corruption, no tolerance for lawlessness and no tolerance for tyranny. Instead we should look critically at the type of so-called tolerance that possess more of laziness and complacency than it does of honest open-mindedness.
If wouldn’t tolerate a vicious animal or dangerous epidemic why then should we tolerate influences which are dangerous to our morals and manners or to the principles on which freedom is founded? It is not only a privilege but it is our inescapable obligation to rise in righteous resentment and rigorous resistance when the law is being flaunted, when outlawed evils are invited in, or when reprehensible practices are passively permitted. Perhaps there have always been those who would flaunt and defraud; but when a society begins to look upon such things with cynical acceptance, when men begin to justify things that nobody should do on the assumption that everybody is doing them, then we have cause for concern.
It isn’t only the fact that an evil deed is done, bad as that may be, but the fact that it doesn’t meet more reaction, the fact that it is easily tolerated; that should be a serious concern. Diseases, germs and viruses are everywhere and will always make inroads where there is an opening. And the greatest danger comes perhaps not in the presence of the germs bad as that may be, but in the lowered resistance that permits them to enter in and do their damage without meeting effective antitoxins.
Basically, there are no new evils in the world, and age, society, or city, is without evil but the critical issue comes when evil is met with cynical acceptance or passive permission just as it is done with Galamsey.
Today there are some people in this country with a disposition that the means justifies the end, no matter how drastic or deceptive that may be. Superficially, and in isolated cases, this may sometimes be true, but it is never true where fundamental principles are compromised, where truth is ignored or where human rights are set aside. For those who would sacrifice human rights to achieve allegedly desirable ends, it should be known that “While they promise liberty, they, themselves are the servants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought into bondage.” II Peter 2:19.
In these perilous times we need to learn that two essentials for a good and effective life are flexibility and firmness; flexibility in some things and an absolute immovability in others.
Frequently, we hear that times have changed. Young people say it. Others do also. In some ways it is true. But it is a statement that can be seriously deceptive. Many things have changed, either for better or for worse. There is a new process, in packaging, promotion; travel, fashion; tools and techniques. Almost every outward aspect of life has changed, and those who attempt to do business as it was once done in the past would not likely stay long in business. The pace of life has changed. We live in a faster and different world, both a worse and better world, and in some ways we have to adjust to the times and be flexible enough to face realities.
The pace has changed; yes. But not the purpose or the principles. Let no one be deceived about flexibility as to fundamental principles. We cannot afford to be flexible in matters of honesty and land degradation. We cannot afford to be flexible in matters of virtue, old-fashioned as the word may seem. Flexibility must not mean setting aside considerate manners, sound morals, honourable obligations, or setting aside the commandments or tampering with the basic laws of life.
We must discriminate as to change and know when it is safe to be flexible and where we must be firmly fixed. To change the facing and the fashions is one thing, but to tamper with the foundations is another.
The age-old, God-given rules of honesty, morality, responsibility “commandments” if that’s what we want to call them, and even the inner voice called conscience, are still what they have always been, no matter how times have changed, how modern we feel or how flexible some things may seem.
God bless our homeland Ghana and make us wise to save it from ourselves.
Email: samueleghan@gmail.com
By Samuel Enos Eghan
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
