Features
Your children and my children are beating our children
Many years ago, Sunday evenings was very exciting and special occasion that both children and adults looked forward to in our dear country, Ghana.
Those were the days that the main source of entertainment on televisions (TV’s) was the Osofo Dadzie show. There were no coloured TV’s in those days and as a matter of fact, only a few families owned TV sets.
Those of us who were not from wealthy homes had to go and watch the famous Osofo Dadzie Show at nearby homes who had the Black and White TV.
Everybody wanted to watch Super O.D. (Kwaku Darko of blessed memory) so that at school the next day, which is a Monday, one can contribute to the discussion among their mates on the show regarding the very interesting parts, especially the funny jokes of the star of the show Super O.D.
Most of the time we had to watch the TV through the window of the individual who had the TV since the rooms in a compound house were usually chamber and hall type and so had limited space to accommodate a lot of people.
Those were the days that if somebody happened to flatulate, especially the silent foul smelling type, in the little crowd in the enclosed space, a crisis of smells was created in the room and everyone becomes a suspect.
Some TV owners actually conducted inspection to identify those who had had their bath before letting them into their room for TV viewing. If you were a parent woe betides you if you should send your child on an errand around 8:30pm.
You would surely be silently cursed by your child for depriving him or her the opportunity to watch Super O. D., that particular Sunday evening.
I recall one such show in which Super O.D. went to marry a woman who already had a couple of children and O. D also had a couple of children. In the course of time they had two children who then had four elder siblings.
Naturally, since the two were the youngest in the family, they received much attention from their parents and so the elderly ones envied them. The elderly ones therefore formed an unholy alliance to make life uncomfortable for their younger siblings.
Super O.D. returned home one day to meet his younger children crying and inquired of them the reason for their crying. They told him that their siblings had beaten them. Soon after his wife also returned home and on hearing of the commotion also asked her husband of what was going on in the house and Super O.D. said “Your children and my children, are beating our children”.
The Osofo Dadzie show was also a great source for inculcating good Ghanaian values in the youth and there is an urgent need to find a replacement show on TV capable of replicating what the show represented in the Ghanaian community.
The impact the shows in the Twi language has on people especially the youth of this nation cannot be overemphasised.
The Osofo Dadzie show, was an avenue for dissemination of essential government policies and therefore was very helpful in the national development agenda.
It was a very effective and useful channel for the promotion of our cultural values. Useful moral lessons were being learnt from the show.
One feature of the show was the moral teachings of Osofo Dadzie character at the end of each show and everyone, both adults and children waited for with great expectation.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
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
