Features
What a hardworking President ! (final part)
From all indications, it has been established beyond reasonable doubt, from the practical demonstration of the President’s agenda, that he is a visionary and hardworking President needed at this time in our political and economic history for the rapid transformation of the Ghanaian society.
Indeed, there is no doubt that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is a hardworking and visionary President who is committed to transforming the economy of Ghana and raising the standard of living of Ghanaians. Many were those who doubted him when he mentioned that Free Senior High School, Technical and Vocational Training could all be made real in this country. The doubting Thomases counter-argued that he was only using it as a ploy to get votes for himself and his party.
VISION OF INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
Today, it has been established beyond reasonable doubt that he has a vision of integrated development agenda aimed at linking up the human resource base of this country with its natural resources also available to the country and blending them in a manner that will result in rapid socio-economic development for the country. This effort has also been collaborated with foreign alliances in form of economic co-operation in various sectors of the economy, including health, education, transportation, roads as well as trade and industry.
The President’s achievement today is unique, seeing that every step he is taking is meant to bring about progress and development. He is one President who does not sit at one place in Accra and take personal glory to himself. He comes to the office very early in the morning and continues working till late in the night. All these are done in addition to undertaking his daily programmes of carrying out sod cutting programmes and commissioning projects that have been completed in various parts of the country.
ROAD PROJECTS
The numerous construction of road projects going on in various parts of the country show that if President Akufo-Addo had not come in at this time, things would have been worse as far as road construction is concerned. Many communities are crying for construction of their roads so that they can be like others they have encountered, but all these will be done with time to the glory of God and the noble people of Ghana.
In addition to what takes place in this country, he is seen very often moving out to other countries and telling them about the “good news” of the attractive investment climate currently prevailing in the country. In other words, the President is always moving round the country to be in touch with the people, find out their needs and to explore the various forms of work and investments going on round the country, contrary to being an arm-chair liberator and being confined to the capital city of Accra as some leaders did.
This is the President the country needs currently to ensure that socio-economic development takes us to a higher level of achievement. Not long ago, the late former President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, while he was alive, made it clear that “we are fortunate to have President Akufo-Addo in Ghana at this time”. When he made this point, many people especially those in his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), did not like it because as is usually their nature, they would never want the current President to be praised for his good work even though they know what the truth is.
As has been pointed out already, when the late President made this point, his own party members did not like it because they felt that he was praising President Akufo-Addo too much but they had wanted him to cast insults at him in line with their usual “unpalatable” characteristics. The late President insisted that was the case and that it was not because he wanted to shower too much praise on President Akufo-Addo, but to praise him and let the world know what the true position is in the country.
TREMENDOUS STRENGTH
The point has been made that President Akufo-Addo keeps moving to all parts of the country exhibiting tremendous strength inspecting programmes and investments going on in the country, the latest being his visit to the Western and Western North regions, Oti and Volta regions and other parts of the country. He is doing this not because he is in a mood of travel-happy but finding out for himself what the true situation is. This dynamism of performance is part of his character. It cannot be taken away from him, so we need to admire him for what he truly is.
The massive strength of the President can influence and make you think that probably he is only 40 years even though he is far older, being 77 years. For this reason, many people agree that he must be appreciated by all and sundry irrespective of one’s political affiliation and/or association.
President Akufo-Addo is a visionary leader because his programmes are meant to transform the economy and give massive employment to more people in the country. The numerous factories set up in the districts are meant to create opportunities of employment for the youth in the country. In addition,the factories and other business opportunities will make Ghana less independent on other countries for their needs. For example, instead of depending on other countries for food, Ghana today has become a net exporter of these items, a testimony to the fact that it is giving real meaning to its independence of other countries.
TRANSFORMATIONAL PROGRAMMES
Programmes like One District One Factory (1D1F), Free Senior High School, Technical and Vocational Education, transformation of the banking sector, massive investments in the health sector in form of the construction of 111 regional and district hospitals as well as the supply of one ambulance to each constituency, the use of drones for the distribution of medicines etc. are a testimony to the great effort being made by President Akufo-Addo and his administration.
In addition, the setting up of automobile industry in the country together with many other achievements like the courageous fight against COVID-19 shows that President Akufo-Addo means good business for the people of Ghana. We also saw not long ago, the President’s visit to Germany aimed at wooing investors to come and partner Ghana in the investment drive. Wherever he goes, he sells Ghana, rather than destroy it as some people in the country shamelessly and embarrassingly prefer to do.
GREAT HARVEST
In the light of all these, the situation in Ghana is comparable to what the Lord Jesus told his disciples in Luke 10:2 that “the harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few …” In one sense, it means that so great was the harvest of souls that the labourers were few and, therefore, more people were needed to help in the work.
In the Ghanaian context of national reconstruction and development, more people are needed to join the President to help the country to grow to a higher pedestal of development where we all want it to be.For this reason, God should bless the country, stimulate it, and encourage everyone to pay his/her dues in form of contribution to national progress, smooth and uninterrupted forward-movement as well as unparalleled development.
Contact email/whatsApp of author:
pradmat2013@gmail.com (0553318911)
BY DR. KOFI AMPONSAH-BEDIAKO
Today, I focus on the Apostolic Church International in Finland, as I continue with my description of institutions and personalities and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland.
The Apostolic Church International, Finland (or, Apostolic International Association Ry) was established in October 9, 2023. The Church in Finland has seen significant strides and accomplishments within the short time that it has been established in Finland, which must be highlighted.
History of the Church in Ghana
The Apostolic Church Ghana originated from the 1904–1905 Welsh revival, officially established in Ghana (then called Gold Coast) in 1935 following connections between a local prayer group in Asamankese (a town in southern Ghana), led by Peter Newman Anim, and the Apostolic Church, UK. There were historical splits in 1939 and 1953, but the Apostolic Church attained autonomy in 1985.
Today, the Church is headquartered in Accra. Last year (2025), it dedicated its new 10-storey headquarters, “The Apostolic Church Tower,” in Frafraha, Adenta West in Accra.
Activities of the Apostolic Church in Finland
The Apostolic Church in Finland conducts church service on Sundays. The service starts at 11a.m. in the morning and closes by 1 p.m. in the afternoon. There are no other activities during other days for now.
The Minister in charge of the church in Finland is also the Area Head of Italy Area. He is Pastor Daniel Kofi Addison who is the new Italy Area Head, and has just been transferred from UK South Area to Italy Area during the just-ended Council Meeting in March this year. Italy Area comprises Italy, which has 13 Assemblies, Germany, one Assembly, and Finland, one Assembly.
Elder Ebenezer Amoaning-Coffie is the Presiding Elder in charge of the Assembly in Finland. A Presiding Elder is responsible for day to day activities of the church (Assembly) and reports to the District Pastor, or in the absence of the District Pastor, reports to the Area Head.
Achievements
The Apostolic Church International, Finland was officially registered under the Finnish Law, guaranteeing freedom of worship and providing legal foundation for future growth. The church service is conducted in both English and Twi.
The church opens its doors to all people of every nation, especially Ghanaians who are in Finland and other African nationals. Now, the membership comprises Ghanaians, Nigerians and Sierra Leoneans.
The Church and the Ghanaian migrant community in Finland
The Apostolic Church in Finland plays a prominent role as a religious group that serves Ghanaian migrants and others in the Finnish society.
Thus, the Apostolic 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.
Elder Amoaning-Coffie said that the main and primary aim of the church is to bring people closer to God. “We aim to win souls for Christ. We aim to preach the gospel to the world. By propagating the gospel to the people, we are hopeful that they will turn away from any ungodly ways and be good individuals in the community and in society in general”, he stated.
He said that everything is going well so far. A key challenge, however, is how to get more members especially the youth. As a new Assembly, we are in need of instrumentalists, for example. We pray to God Almighty to help us do His work, the Elder disclosed.
Integration
By its activities, the Apostolic 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 in Finland.
As I mentioned some time ago, the role of migrant associations and groups such as the Apostolic 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!
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
The landscape of the Ghanaian palate is shifting, and not necessarily for the better. In our bustling urban centres, from the streets of Accra to the suburbs of Kumasi, a quiet culinary revolution is taking place; one where the mortar and pestle are being replaced by the pizza oven and the deep fryer. This transition from traditional staple foods like fufu, banku, akple, kenkey, tuo zaafi, and ampesi toward “continental” dishes is more than just a change in appetite; it is a reflection of a deeper social struggle with identity and prestige.
The illusion of modernity
For many, “stepping out” for a meal has become synonymous with consuming foreign cuisine. There is an unspoken social hierarchy where a bowl of Abunuabunu is relegated to the village category, while burgers, pizzas are branded as prestigious choices. We have reached a stage where we equate foreign with modern and local with primitive.
This perception is a dangerous illusion. Our traditional dishes are marvels of culinary engineering complex, nutrient-dense, and deeply rooted in our history. When we choose a processed foreign import over a meal made from local tubers or fermented maize, we are not just changing our lunch; we are eroding the indigenous knowledge attached to our local ingredients and foods.
We need to turn the consumption of indigenous grains and tubers like millet, sorghum, and plantain into a statement of self-worth and national pride.
The cultural and health erosion
Every time a local dish disappears from a restaurant menu to make room for foreign fast food, we lose a piece of our cultural fabric. Traditional Ghanaian cooking is an art that requires patience and skill. By choosing the convenience of foreign fast food, we are raising a generation that may know the taste of a pepperoni pizza but cannot identify the rich, earthy profile of Prekese or the subtle tang of well-fermented dough dishes like corn porridge, banku, etew, abolo, agidi or kamfa, and kenkey.
Furthermore, we are at the crossroads of a nutrition transition. Replacing high-fiber, indigenous crops with calorie-dense but nutrient-poor foreign fast foods is driving a rise in lifestyle diseases such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and liver disease. We are trading our longevity for 15-minutes convenience or unhealthy diet.
A call for culinary patriotism
It is time for us to appreciate, preserve, and promote our indigenous foods and culinary traditions. We need to be proud of our local dishes, ingredients and cooking methods, rather than relying heavily on foreign or imported foods. We must stop viewing our local delicacies as low-class and start treating our culinary heritage as the high-end gastronomy it truly is.
True sophistication does not come from imitating Western fast food; it comes from innovation and adding values to our own resources. We see glimpses of this potential in the rise of branded Sobolo and the creative use of gluten-free plantain flour in modern baking of flour-based dishes such as bread, cakes, biscuits and others. This is the path forward. We must elevate our local dishes, making them as accessible, affordable, presentable and trendy as any foreign alternative.
To the hospitality industry: Innovate or stagnate
Our hotels and high-end restaurants must lead the charge. They must stop relegating local dishes to the “traditional corner” of the buffet, and apply the same culinary finesse given to imported dishes to our Fante Fante, apapransa, aborbi tadi, fetritoto, akple, abolo, yakayeke, fufu, ampesi, kokonte, wasawasa, tubani, apapransa, mpotompoto, kelewele, aliha, brukutu, pito, and other local dishes. The industry must enhance customer experiences making eating local dishes the ultimate luxury experience for both tourists and residents alike. We must elevate the presentation of our foods by using modern plating techniques to show that a bowl of light soup can be as visually stunning as a French consommé. We need to reclaim our Ghanaian plate before it is too late.
To the policy makers: Let us encourage buying of local ingredients to promote the local food industry and economy. There should be educational programmes and talks about the nutritional and cultural benefits of local foods so that people understand their value.
We need to encourage serving traditional dishes at school programmes, parties, and celebrations instead of only fast foods,
To the Youth: Let us value and appreciate our traditional dishes instead of always choosing foreign foods. There must be balance in our choice of local and foreign dishes. Confidence in our culture encourages others to respect it too. Our local dishes can also be promoted by sharing pictures, recipes, and videos on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp to make them attractive and trendy.
Young citizens must learn from their parents and elders how to prepare local meals to keep the knowledge and cultural relevance alive. Local dishes can be modernised to appeal to younger generations and tourists.
Conclusion
We cannot afford to trade our heritage for foreign cuisines which are gaining grounds across the country at an alarming rate. We must disabuse our minds of the perception that anything foreign or imported is better than those locally made. Our health, economy, and identity are tied to the soil. It is time to stop apologising for our local flavours and start celebrating them. It is possible to embrace modernity without losing ourselves and our cultural identity. Let us make the Ghanaian kitchen the heart of our modern identity once again.
By: Marilyn Gadogbe
