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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.
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
