Features
Amidu and Mahama: Who is “stupid”?
When one hits 60 years of age, having accumulated a lot of experiences in life, some put the 60+ candidates on “the sixth floor of life.” So, this column will be contemplating on “the sixth floor,” examining issues of local, national and international relevance and importance for the benefit of society.
The column begins with a flaming issue of “stupidity” charged on the Special Prosecutor (SP), Mr Martin Amidu, by former President John Dramani Mahama. Mr Mahama is said to have described Mr Amidu’s recent conduct as “stupid” at a forum at the Commonwealth Hall Conference Room at the University of Ghana in Accra. The reason? Mr Mahama says the SP has confirmed in a statement to President Akufo-Addo that elected Government Official 1 in the global corruption-riddled Airbus scandal is no other person than former President Mahama himself.
According to Mr Mahama, the reason adduced by the SP for not inviting him for questioning on the stinking Airbus issue, because he has been elected flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, is not only tenable but also “stupid”. Mr Mahama contends that there is no law protecting any “suspect” elected presidential candidate of any political party in the country, and that, such “suspect” can be investigated or prosecuted. Mr Mahama says, the SP should have restricted himself only to the risk assessment of the Agyapa deal assigned to him, but strayed into the Airbus scandal and roped him in to equalise the corruption scandal, thus, describing his conduct as “stupid” and “cowardice”.
Former President Mahama then challenged the SP to investigate the Airbus scandal and present a comprehensive report on it, assuring that he is ready to appear before the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to assist in the investigations, if the SP has evidence to suggest that he (Mahama) is complicit in the shameful scandal. The words stupid, stupidity, coward and cowardice are ringing bells in the statements used by Mr Mahama to address the SP for confirming him as the elected Government Official 1 in the Airbus scandal.
The New Edition of Chambers Dictionary defines “stupid” as, senseless; deficient in understanding; showing lack of reason or judgement; one wanting in wisdom; a person of weak mind and wanting discretion. The same dictionary defines “coward” as, a reprehensively faint-hearted person; one without courage or one who is timid.
”Interestingly, Mr Amidu has responded to the stupidity and cowardice description of him by Mr Mahama, punching him instead, that Mr Mahama lacks understanding of issues of security and intelligence. According to Mr Amidu, his long public service of over 25 years, spanning various aspects of security and intelligence, makes him more experienced in determining when it is not conducive to the national security interest to foolhardily take certain law and order actions.”
The SP says, he owes that exercise of discretion to his vast experience and his responsibility to maintain national stability and his conscience, stressing that “there is no question of stupidity or cowardice about it.” According to the SP, any person aspiring to be President of Ghana for a second term who does not know that the cardinal principle in security and intelligence is that, caution is the better part of valour, not worth the votes of the people.
In a statement issued on November 9, 2020, by Mr Amidu, however, he challenged former President Mahama “to man-up, wise-up, and be bold and brave enough” to voluntarily visit the OSP with two lawyers of his choice to be cautioned and interrogated to demonstrate his valour and wisdom as not being the elected Government Official 1, and also as not being the first guarantor to Samuel Adam Mahama’s forged passport application.
Indeed, I will urge Mr Mahama to swallow the SP’s bait and see what will happen to his campaign to the Jubilee House.
Meanwhile, is it a mark of “stupidity” for the SP to ask Mr Mahama to voluntarily go to the OSP with two lawyers of his choice for questioning on the Airbus scandal?
Will it also be a mark of “stupidity” or “cowardice” for the SP to subpoena Mr Mahama to the OSP for questioning on the Airbus scandal?
What “wise” method would Mr Mahama prefer the SP to use to invite him to appear before the OSP for questioning on the infamous Airbus saga?
Is it the case that the good citizens of the Republic of Ghana are still not aware of who the elected Government Official 1 is?
Readers, what do you also think of the tone and structure of the language employed by the former President to express his disagreement with the SP on the subject under discussion?
Dear readers, from the foregoing, can you tell which of the two characters is really “stupid” or “wise”? Please, this is “homework” for you.
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
