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‘Who say coro no dey’
In Ghana one of the popular phrases is “who say man no dey”. It is something that people often use to describe the fact that if you do not have what it takes or have not experienced something, do not insist that such a thing does not exist.
Corona virus or COVID-19, has brought this home to some people who thought it was a hoax and an agenda by people who were pushing for 5G adoption throughout the world.
Going through the headlines of news items on Cable News Network (CNN) the other day, I came across a headline that caught my attention. It was about a Pastor who did not believe that COVID-19 was real and has lost the wife through the disease.
In the interview with the reporter, the man said that he wished they had taken the COVID-19 threat seriously and that he would not have lost his wife.
The picture of Donald Trump, President of the United States wearing a nose mask is undoubtedly my picture of the year. This is a man who had said that the COVID-19 was not as dangerous as people were claiming it was and that he would never wear a nose mask and had been encouraging his supporters to ignore the call by health experts to wear face masks.
At a point it must have dawned on him that it would be foolish on his part to deny the obvious after Prince Charles and Boris Johnson had contracted the disease. Again the death that swept across America due to the virus must have convinced him that his own life was under threat.
A man called Bolsonaro associated with climate change skepticism has until recently, known to have been a COVID-19 skeptic. He is not just an ordinary man but a President of an important nation, Brazil.
He had on many occasions displayed complete disregard for it in public appearances. It appeared as if he was taking lessons from his friend, Donald Trump, President of the United States. He interacted with people in large gatherings, shaking hands and hugging children, all without face masks.
Just like his denial of the existence of climate change, he demonstrated same non-chalance towards COVID-19, until he fell sick. The diagnosis revealed that he had contracted the diseaase. ‘Who say Coro no dey’. Once again COVID-19 showed that you disregard it at your own peril.
The problem is that because the likes of Bolsonaro and Trump are leaders, some people believe in what they say and so accept their utterances without question. The sad thing, though, is that such people do not have access to the same level of healthcare as these leaders, thereby creating problems for themselves.
Just like Trump, after getting a rude awakening, Bolsonaroo needed no prompting to put on a face mask in his public engagements from then on. His statements that sought to ridicule the potency and even existence of COVID-19, gave way to a behavioural change towards the observation of the COVID-19 safety protocols.
His public appearances now show him together with his body guards wearing face masks. ‘Who say Coro no dey’.
Some countries were used as examples of good management in the fight against the disease. Countries which were overwhelmed by the COVID-19 were supposed to learn from those countries how to effectively manage the fight against it.
Countries like South Korea, Germany etc. were considered to be pacesetters in the fight against the pandemic. When their numbers in terms of daily infections decreased and clearly showed a downward trend, they became complacent.
Soon after, the rate of infection started rising and has now reached worrying levels. If you show disrespect to COVID-19, it would show you that it is a formidable force to reckon with. Recent World Health Organisation (WHO) reports indicate a decline in the COVID-19 cases in Africa and the reason is very simple; people are widely respecting the health protocols in place in many African countries.
Personal immunity is something that African countries are taking seriously. Natural immune boosting foods like oranges, rich in vitamin and others are being patronised by a lot of people hence contributing to the decline in the number of new cases and an increase in the number of recoveries.
COVID-19 has brought home a lot of prominent men in society, the effectiveness and usefulness of herbal concoctions and the need to focus on healthy diet instead of junk food. One politician who was sharing his experience on radio about how some herbal preparation helped him, advocated the paying of serious attention to herbal medicine.
Africa has a lot of herbs that have medicinal properties and it is high time health practitioners especially pharmacist, paid attention to them and utilise them for healing diseases.
COVID-19 has compelled leaders across the world especially those in Africa to look at innovative ways of doing things. African leaders have been faced with the reality and have realised that they cannot perpetually depend on foreign aid to resolve their domestic challenges and must, therefore, do something different.
Young people are now bringing up innovative products which are really contributing to the fight against the pandemic. It has galvanised the youth into putting on their thinking caps, resulting in the unleashing of their creative talents, which have started impacting on the economic fortunes of many countries.
Governments have started providing support for companies to diversify and for a country like Ghana; the “Ghana Beyond Aid” is gradually becoming a reality.Almost on a weekly basis something new is being developed and ‘who say Coro no dey’.
Countries that usually would not have cooperated, are now in various cooperation moves to address one challenge or another, all in the fight against COVID-19.
One video clip that has stuck in my mind is the Cuban Doctors, and black doctors at that, who were disembarking from an aeroplane in Italy to provide medical services to help in the fight against the pandemic in Italy, a country where racism is high. An unthinkable spectacle, a few weeks before, if not for COVID-19. ‘Who say Coro no dey’
My prayer is that we would maintain the positive things that this deadly disease has brought in its wake like the zeal to bring innovative products, the desire for herbal medicine and a new desire to be disciplined as far as rules and regulations are concerned.
AVERAGE CITIZEN
MY bosom friend Kofi Kokotako once told me that a person’s haircut portrays his character. I disagreed with him and said a person’s character portrays his haircut. All in all, we agreed between us that a presidential aspirant whose haircut is excessively punk cannot win even a unit committee election, much more a castle-bound one.
One thing I hated as a kid was getting my hair barbered because I never had the style I wanted. Usually, it was my father who was the tormentor-in-chief, and he chose the kind of design that would suit the shape and nature of my head and that of my elder brother Christian, whose name is more civilised than mine.
When we were through, we looked quite different from the other kids. I didn’t know where my Pop learnt that kind of style but I realised it was very colonial in form and outlook and I became sad when the girls giggled at my design.
Actually, it was something resembling a half-bow with a line cut through at about 38 degrees to the perpendicular. After the ordeal we looked half like the resident catechist and half like a fierce Regimental Sergeant-Major.
When I told my daddy that I had had enough of the ancient cut and wanted an Afro or at least a Tokyo Joe, he quickly explained that Tokyo Joe was for ruffians and that his style was tailor-made for aspiring doctors, lawyers, engineers and great states-men. He didn’t mention journalists though.
So I went and told the giggling girls that my hairdo was a magical one that was going to transform me into a doctor whether they liked it or not. I added that their brothers who had modern haircuts invariably were going to be labourers and tangas (town council). They laughed at me even the more.
They referred me to the conservancy labourer not far away who always wore my kind of cut and asked me why he wasn’t wearing a white gown with a stethoscope hanging from his neck, if that kind of haircut was indeed miracle-performing!
My Dad was quite scrupulous and dished us the haircut in its hardest form just before Palm Sunday. It helped boost our religious conviction and the Holy Spirit almost descended and settled on our wonderful heads.
At Sunday school one Palm Sunday, the lady teacher asked me to stand so that she could admire my hairdo. I was quite flattered and happy that I was the centre of attraction on a great occasion like Palm Sunday. So I quickly stood up and turned round like a model for all to see and envy my design.
It was when the teacher asked me whether my daddy was a policeman that I lost heart. At the mention of policeman, everybody started laughing and I concluded that the teacher wasn’t admiring my head after all. All she wanted to do was to predict my daddy’s occupation using my head as a determinant. I wasn’t pleased with the attempt.
Today whenever it is getting to Palm Sunday 1 remember the incident. And actually I have always enjoyed Palm Sunday because deep within me, I’m a very religious person and I believe that once God will judge us by the purity of our hearts and not the bottles of beer we quaff, I shall also be in heaven together with Korkorti.
Now if you observe properly, you’d realise it is those who are not believers who celebrate Easter to the fullest. They understand the real meaning of Palm Sunday because they equate it to the birthday of palm wine. They actually mourn the death of Christ and rejoice at his resurrection using palm in the form of wine.
Palm Sunday is best marked in the rural areas where palm wine is always available from dawn to dusk and vice versa. Normally, people start Palm Sunday at exactly 4.15 am when the freshly-tapped wine starts arriving. But you have to begin slowly otherwise you’d be in coma before the sun rises.
Easter is due again and this time as usual, the action is right in the countryside. Kwahu is going to shake, Tapa Abotoase will somersault and Peki would explode. All over the world, these three Sikaman towns are ranked as places where Easter is best celebrated with a hangover assured.
People from Britain, Germany and Holland come down either to Obo Kwahu or Avetile Peki to celebrate Easter. They never miss it. It is a yearly ritual. They save towards the occasion.
So during the celebrations, people from all over the country also converge on these places and the celebrants compare haircuts and note carefully those who have grown lean and those who are neither growing lean or growing fat.
In fact, people assess their fellow human beings to ascertain whether they are becoming prosperous or are chewing grass. News is also brought from all over the globe and those from Germany (Jaaamani) are the loudest. The way they talk, you would never know they are cleaning the whiteman’s toilet to make some dough. You’ll think they are Managing Directors of a multinational corporation in Dusseldof. Such is life.
It is during church service on Easter Sunday that the been-tos and the locals alike display whatever they have under their sleeves. The gentlemen are often resplendent in suits and black shining pairs of shoes, and the way they walk can be a clue as to where they are sojourning. With seamen for instance, it can be quite psychedelic. It is a real sight to behold especially if they hail from Kromanti, Moree or Abandze.
With the ladies, the spectacle is breathtaking. It is unbelievable! You can’t comprehend it using the human senses. You have to employ spiritual means. The kaba styles are of different kinds, styles, colour and combination of colours. Some of the styles are complemented with wings and when the lady wearing it is hurrying to “chapel” you’ll think she is actually airborne. She is practically a human vulture.
Then comes the picnic sessions which are normally well-attended by gate crashers, mental patients and political strategists who are also well-versed with what is going on between Kwame Pianim and kukrudu. So they brief their listeners and prophesy the outcome of court cases and election results. In exchange, they are well-fed, well-boozed and all.
But things do not happen only during the day time. At night, the devil usually takes over. Friendships are entered into, old girlfriends are re-baptised and there is love and romance.
By Easter Monday, marriages are broken, new marriages contracted, girlfriends are jilted and pregnancies are on the way awaiting abortion. Every year it happens, and this year it is going to happen again. The death and resurrection of the Lord will really be marked in both righteous and evil ways.
Perhaps, this is not how Judas intended it to be celebrated. Judas was the architect of the Holy Friday coup d’état against the Son of Man.
This article was first published on Saturday March 30, 1996
The Ghanaian community in Finland on Saturday, March 14, 2026, celebrated Ghana’s 69th independence anniversary in an impressive event in Helsinki, the capital city of Finland.
The event was organised by the Ghana Union Finland (GUF), an association of Ghanaian migrants in Finland. It was an occasion well attended by many people from the Ghanaian community in Finland, Finns and other nationalities.
The occasion was graced by the Special Guest, Her Excellency Abigail Naa Adzoko Kwashi, the Ambassador of Ghana to Norway with concurrent accreditation to Finland and Iceland. In her speech, the Ambassador encouraged Ghanaians living in Finland to pursue unity, actively participate in, and support the Ghana Union Finland to build a stronger body better positioned to advocate for its interests and goals.
Also present at the event was the Honorary Consul of Ghana in Finland, Mrs Kati Kivisaari, who has replaced the retired Ms Ulla Alanko. Mrs Kivisaari urged Ghanaians in Finland to remain good ambassadors of Ghana in their lives in Finland.
The event saw the inauguration of new executive members of the Ghana Union Finland. The team was inducted by Elder Samuel Anini, Patron of the Ghana Union Finland.
Earlier, a “royal entry” was performed by leaders of the Asanteman Finland and Mfantseman Kuw and other personalities in their colourful kente attire adorned with ornaments, amidst traditional music and adowa dance to usher in the Ambassador.
Unity and harmony
I see such events, especially the ones marking independence anniversaries, as ample display of unity and harmony in the Ghanaian migrant community as well as in the larger Ghana and Finland relations.
Some personalities present at the event were Nana Ekuoba Gyasi Gyimah and other leaders of Asanteman Finland, Mfantseman Kuw Finland, as well as representatives of other Ghanaian ethnic groups.
It was a very colourful occasion with dance and other performances such as poetry recitals. The audience was also treated to tasty Ghanaian dishes such as jollof rice, fried yam, and soft drinks.
For me personally, whenever I think about Ghana’s Independence Day anniversary every 6th of March, my mind also goes to Finland’s own day on 6th of December. The two dates always give me such a special, positive feeling. As soon as one of the dates ends, I begin a countdown to the other (next) date.
Last year on December 6, 2025, when Finland celebrated its 108th independence anniversary and I participated in two events marking the celebration in Helsinki, I started looking forward to Ghana’s 69th anniversary this year. Now that Ghana’s anniversary is over, I am looking forward to Finland’s 109th anniversary on December 6, 2026. That’s the beauty of it all for me.
Ensuring integration
What I see in all this, especially for Ghanaian migrants in Finland, is the chance for members of the Ghanaian diaspora in Finland to integrate into the Finnish society through such celebrations that are marked by social activities, affiliations and ideas of inclusion.
Inclusion is key to integration, and the two ideas undoubtedly build a sense of belonging. As I previously wrote, Finland sees the role of migrant associations as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision making process and by acting as a representative voice, which is highly appreciated in Finland.
As I keep pointing out, Finland encourages migrants’ participation in the planning of issues concerning the migrants themselves, using such a strategy as one of the efficient ways to improve their inclusion.
Thus, there is an enabling environment created within the Finnish cultural ecology that undoubtedly helps migrants to integrate into the host Finnish society. Thank you!
By Perpetual Crentsil
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