Features
UTAG Strike: A Student’s Perspective
University Teachers Association of Ghana, (UTAG), embarked on an industrial action on Monday, August 2, 2021, to demand better conditions of service. This action had had a heavy impact on academic activities in the various universities, bringing teaching and learning to a standstill.
There had been threats by the management of some universities to close down if the strike exceeded two weeks. In a conscious effort to resolve this issue, stakeholders had engaged UTAG at several meetings which initially proved futile.
According to UTAG president, Professor Charles Marfo, the agreement with government regarding the Single Spine Salary Structure in 2012 meant that an entry-level lecturer would receive the Ghana Cedi equivalent of $2,084 but successive governments had been paying lecturers lesser than that. He stated that they were not looking for an increment of their salaries but they only “want to be given what they believe is fair.”
Before the strike, UTAG had already hinted and threatened the government to embark on an industrial action if it did not take immediate steps to curb the worsening conditions of service of UTAG members.
True to their words, the association embarked on industrial action by withdrawing teaching, which included the conduct of examinations, marking of examination scripts, and other related matters.
But, thankfully, the strike which started on Monday, August 2, 2021, ended on August 18, 2021. Nonetheless it must be stated that amidst the fight for better conditions, students were at the receiving end of the back and forth between government and the lecturers.
As a third year student at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), I have a year more to complete school and having been dealt with enough academic stress throughout the outbreak of Coronavirus-19 disease last year, the strike was an unfortunate ordeal students had to go through.
Last year, students stayed home for nine months, managing to study online and struggling to complete the semester. This year, we had to accumulate a 13-week lecture in six to nine weeks in order to cover the time lost.
We were recovering from “academic infirmity” until the sudden news of our lecturers embarking on a strike. This, indeed, left us contemplating on what to do with the rest of the semester.
Final year students were no exemption. It was unfortunate that in their last year of completing school, they were left stranded because lectures and the conduct of examinations had been suspended.
Per the academic calendar, we had barely two weeks to start examinations only to be met with the suspension of academic activities until the government took action.
Time was passing quickly and had the negations remained in a stalemate, we would have required more time to complete our academic work.
After what appeared to be a long silence on the part of government on the strike, steps were eventually put in place for the resumption of lectures.
Students had paid huge sums of money as ‘facility user fees’ after spending two-thirds of the semester on online classes, therefore, we could not have afforded to stay home any longer.
Professor Charles Marfo had said that the members of UTAG were “extremely unhappy about the government’s treatment, and although they were not enthused to stay home, they believed that they needed to fight for better conditions of service for themselves.”
The inconvenience of the about two-week-long strike cannot be overemphasised. I am somehow relieved that the government and UTAG came up with solutions which prompted the leadership of UTAG to call off the strike.
Education is not a break and pause affair; it is a continuous journey. And as the President rightfully said, “we should not be spectators but citizens”. Therefore, I wish to urge the government to prevent the concerns of UTAG and other labour organisations from degenerating into strikes which only create different forms of inconveniences to citizens.
Agitations on the labour front affect the nation in the long run and we must take pragmatic steps in for resolving all outstanding and future concerns of workers promptly.
By Jacklin Addobea Addo
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
