Features
A focus on Apostle Francis Owusu Kwaah, National Head of COP Finland
Apostle Owusu Kwaah
Today, I focus on Apostle Francis Owusu Kwaah, the National Head of the Church of Pentecost (COP) in Finland,as I continue with my narration of personalities and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland.
The Church of Pentecost in Finland has made great contributions to the positive interactions among Ghanaian migrants in Finland and their integration into the Finnish society.
Apostle Owusu Kwaah arrived in Finland on 22 November 2020 and took up the position as the National Head of COP in Finland, taking over from Apostle Edmund Appiah whothen moved to the UK.
Assumption of duty
Having assumed office as the National Head of COP Finland, Apostle Owusu Kwaah hasundoubtedly continued with work for the growth of the church.He has respectfully held the position and has been leading the church in great strides.
Indeed, the COP Finland has played a prominent role in the religious or spiritual existence of its members, as well as in people’s social lives as a key aspect of integration into the Finnish society.
The Church in Finland was established over 20 years ago, havingbeen started in September 2000 as a prayer group with a small number of devoted persons in Helsinki (see www.copfinland.fi).
Achievements as Head of COP Finland
There is no denying the fact that under Apostle Owusu Kwaah as the National Head of COP Finland, the church has continued to chalk significant progress, as started under Apostle Kwaah’s predecessor, Apostle Appiah.
The COP has seen significant growth, including re-organising the Vaasa branch of the church, while other branches were opened in Turku and Tampere. A nursery assembly was also started in Oulu.
An innovative Online Church was also established during the Covid-19 period. Thisenabled members of the church to still worship (especially on Sundays) in view of the lockdowns, while the online church service also catered especially for people scattered around Finland.
As mentioned earlier, all achievements have continued under Apostle Francis Owusu Kwaah after he took over from Apostle Appiah.Like his predecessor Apostle Appiah, Apostle Owusu Kwaah has made many innovative moves, as he continues with the achievements begun by his predecessor.
Today, under Apostle Owusu Kwaah, a youth branch of COP has recently been established in Espoo, a part of the greater Helsinki region in Finland. New branches of the church have also been opened in Kuopio and Joensuu, both of which are cities in eastern Finland.
The COP Finland continues to grow under Apostle Owusu Kwaah’s ministration. He has also spearheaded the establishment of an innovative online prayer session, called “Prayer Clinic”, every Saturday morning which is open to everyone irrespective of their religious background and who wants to be in the presence of God.
New Deacons, Deaconesses, and Elders have recently been appointed to take up leadership roles in various aspects in the many branches of the church.
The future of COP in Finland
During my interview with Apostle Owusu Kwaah, I got a very positive impression about his vision for the growth and development of COP in Finland.
Indeed there is no doubt that Apostle Owusu Kwaah is optimistic and has a very positive view of the Church and the future of COP in Finland.
The Apostle is thankful to the many people whose support and encouragement has undoubtedly helped in his religious work for the church and its growth in Finland.
Role in the Ghanaian community
COP Finland has been one of the major channels through which the Ghana Union Finland (GUF), an association for Ghanaian migrants in Finland, has made more contacts with members of the Ghanaian community. It is one of the major Pentecostal or Charismatic churches dominated by Ghanaian migrants and which has been of immense benefit to GUF.
Previously, before the Covid-19 pandemic from March 2020 and its attendant restrictions, newly-elected executives of GUF got the chance to introduce themselves to other Ghanaian migrants by visiting them at church sessions. This boosted easy interaction.
Moreover, the church in Helsinki has the Akan Assembly where worship is done mainly in the Twi language, and the English Assembly (or the PIWC) attended by other nationalities and African migrants aside Ghanaian migrants. Thank you!
Email: perpetual.crentsil@yahoo.com
By Perpetual Crentsil
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
