Features
Rt. Rev. Samuel Yaw Dua Dodd is new Methodist Bishop of Tarkwa Diocese
• Rt. Rev. Dr Dodd (right) receiving a bible from Most Rev. Dr. Boafo (left)
Rt. Rev. Dr. Samuel Yaw Dua Dodd has been inducted as the fifth Bishop of the Tarkwa Diocese of the Methodist Church Ghana (MCG).
The induction service, held at the Gaddiel Acquah Memorial Methodist Church at Tarkwa, in the Western Region, was jointly officiated by Most Rev Paul K. Boafo, the Presiding Bishop, William Orleans Oduro Esq, the Lay President, Rt. Rev. Michael Agyarkwa Bossman, the Administrative Bishop, all of MCG and other reverend ministers present.
It was attended by ministers and lay members of the church from all the dioceses in the country.
by Rt Rev Beka (left), Bishop of Tamale
Diocese and Rt Rev Amponsah Donkor,
immediate-past Bishop of Tarkwa Diocese
signing the Induction
Declaration document
Most Rev. Dr. Boafo thanked God for His continuous “provision of leaders of God to lead His people.”
He said the new Bishop was coming in at a time when leadership was most needed in every corner of the church, and that Rt. Rev. Dr Dodd was a leader chosen by God to shepherd the entire region.
He advised Rt Rev Dr. Dodd not to discriminate but spread the good news to the length and breadth of the Diocese and any other place he finds himself.
Most Rev. Dr. Boafo charged the new Bishop to fight against the destruction of the environment and water bodies by illegal mining activities.
He also urged him to collaborate with political leaders, traditional authorities and all opinion leaders to find ways of educating people about the effects of illegal mining.
Most Rev Titus Awotwi Pratt, who delivered the sermon, said it was God who had called the new Bishop into the high office, so He would endow him with the needed wisdom and grace to lead the flock.
He advised Rt. Rev. Dr Dodd to rely on God to lead him in all his endeavours, “and also work with people with special gifts to compliment your gifts.”
Rt. Rev. Dr Dodd is married to Rita Dodd and they are blessed with six children – Nathaniel Kofi Sam, Vida Amoasi, Christina Haizel Amoakoa Dodd, Jael Hephzibah Kukua Dodd, Daniel Akwesi Kensa Pieh, Sammy Penney.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Dodd is a child of the manse and the last child of his parents the late Very Rev. Nathaniel Dua Dodd and Mrs. Mercy Dodd. He is a product of the Bamianko, Senya Bereku, Asamankese and Goaso Methodist, and the Mfantsipim School.
Before going through ministerial training at the Trinity Theological Seminary from 2000 to 2003, Rt Rev Dr Dodd did his teacher’s training at the Assin Foso Teacher Training College and taught Mathematics and Science at Assin Foso Methodist Junior High School.
He has served in the Tarkwa Diocese, Koforidua Diocese and the Accra Diocese in various capacities as Circuit Minister, Superintendent Minister and Diocesan Youth Organiser, among other assignments.
From Efreda Ennin, Tarkwa
CAPTION 1: Rt. Rev. Dr Dodd (left) receiving a bible from Most Rev. Dr. Boafo (right)
CAPTION 2: The new Bishop (middle) being robbed by Rt Rev Beka (left), Bishop of Tamale Diocese and Rt Rev Amponsah Donkor, immediate-past Bishop of Tarkwa Diocese
CAPTION 3: Rt. Rev. Dr Dodd (seated) signing the Induction Declaration document
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
