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ARS General Conference removes Nyeenyami Etsey Wovenu as leader in a vote of no confidence
The executive committee (governing body) of the Apostles Revelation Society (ARS) at its General Conference held at Tadzewu last Saturday, September 26, 2020 removed Rev. Nyeenyami Etsey Wovenu as leader and chairman of the society.
The governing body chaired by Vice Chairman, Torgbui Awli IV in a vote of no confidence, accused Rev. Etsey Wovenu of neglecting the church constitution and preventing unity in the church, by refusing to extend peaceful overtures to estranged members, who wanted to come back to build a united church.
The conference had, therefore, asked him to hand over to the executive committee of the governing body.
Other charges levelled against him included his continued refusal to adhere to court orders; refusal to attend conferences and meetings; sale of church lands, unilateral suspension of pastors and church members, incarceration by an Accra Court and bonded by a court in Ho to be of good behaviour or serve two years imprisonment.
The rest are habouring of ‘machomen’ in the church premises to attack members he begrudged, unilateral decisions pertaining to the church and sexual offences.
The General Conference, said, having exhausted all available means to call their leader to order they had no options, but to vote him out of office as leader and chairman of the church.
The General Conference have, therefore, appointed a 5-member interim spiritual heads made up of mostly his own brothers and sisters to uplift the spiritual needs of members.
The members are Mama Kekelifia Afeanyetornye I, Rev. Gershon Selaenyezi Wovenu, Rev. Mawutor Wovenu, Rev. Veliane Wovenu-Goka, Rev. Kpormor Wovenu, and would serve for a period of one year, within which a substantive leader and high priest would be elected.
The executive committee, however, continued to head the general administration of the church in accordance with a declaration by the late C.K.N. Wovenu, founder of the church which said categorically that, on his passing to eternity, the administration of the church should be assumed by the executive committee of the church’s governing body.
This assertion was also upheld by a High Court, presided over by Mr Justice K.A. Ofori-Atta in a suit titled Rev. M.M.C Dogbe and others (plaintiffs) versus Rev. Nyeenyami Etsey Wovenu and others (defendants) some years ago.
The executive committee also cited a story in the May, 26, 2020 edition of the Ghanaian Times in which a Ho High Court convicted Rev. Nyeenyami Etsey Wovenu for refusing to involve all the executive members of the ARS in the celebration of the recent 79th anniversary of the church, at Tadzewu in the Volta Region.
He was bonded to be of good behaviour for one year or in default serve a two-year jail term in hard labour.
Rev. Wovenu was earlier found guilty in 2011 over similar issue by an Accra High Court, and was sent to prison for 14 days.
A senior confidant of Rev. Nyeenyami Etsey Wovenu, who pleaded anonymity, told The Spectator on Tuesday in a telephone interview that his boss still remained the leader of the ARS and that all allegations made against him were false and a frame-up.
He said Rev. Nyeenyami Etsey Wovenu would react at the appropriate time.
By Francis Xah
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
