Features
Bawumia: Reflection of love
Many a time we boast to people that we love our neighbours but when we find ourselves in situations that expect us to prove this love beyond reasonable doubts, we are often found wanting, an indication that what many people boast of and describe as love does not come anywhere near true love but rather love that is fake.
Fake love abounds everywhere in this world and in every part of all the 16 regions in the country. This is very unfortunate but that is what is often found in this world.
True love can always be known when we carefully examine people‘s attitude and general behaviour in society. There are some people who pretend to love others even though this may not be true.
THE UNDERPRIVILEGED
In a situation where we come across the underprivileged who have suffered from diseases and have been rendered wretched through humiliation of suffering, such people, some of them, are found to be so disfigured that they appear unattractive to many people in society.
Such people can hardly attract love from members in their own community or from their own fellow citizens. It is for this reason that we need to be careful about those who profess to have love for such people when in fact they do not have any love in their heart for them.
The truth of the matter is that many underprivileged people in society are often ignored because of their miserable situation. Many people will not like to come close to them but may profess to love them just to impress society. Such outward show of love is fake, filthy or not genuine.
LOVE FOR LEPERS
How many people in Ghana today or many parts of this world can openly express love to lepers who dwell in the Weija Leprosarium in Accra?
The inmates in the leprosarium have been cured by the grace of God, but in spite of this, many people in society find it very difficult to associate with them. The lepers from Weija have been cured but their condition is such that they look very miserable and approaching them, therefore, is difficult for many people. It is, therefore, not surprising that these lepers are left to their fate without any warm interaction from those who claim to be lovers of God.
One person in this country who has proved to be the loving type for the cured lepers at Weija is H.E. Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, who has visited these underprivileged many times. His Excellency goes there to embrace, interact and share ideas with the inmates.
SHOW OF HUMILITY
Dr. Bawumia’s presence and interaction with them goes to show him as a humble man who does not place himself above the underprivileged in society but sees himself as the same with other persons who find themselves in such unfortunate situations.
Less than a fortnight ago, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia celebrated his 59th birthday. To celebrate this birthday, he went to the Weija Leprosarium to bring inmates of the leprosarium to his Cantonments residence to celebrate the day with them. This goes to portray him as a man who does not regard himself as any special person from those who do not find themselves in a privileged position as him.
Many a time, our churches and mosques as well as other religious faiths teach us to love one another and to see ourselves as being the same as that person whose conditions are poor, miserable or unattractive. The man, Mahamadu Bawumia, has proven to be a true lover of God and his actions in society are far from pretence.
SELFLESS CHARACTER
Apart from the love he shows regularly to the inmates of the Weija Leprosarium, he is again known to share what he has with the poor in society, who find themselves in various parts of the country. He is known from time to time to be often sharing what he has with many orphanages in this country.
Dr. Bawumia’s family, including his wife and children, also ought to be commended for supporting their man to share what he has with the poor and needy as well as the underprivileged in society. It is in light of this that we pray to the Almighty God to shower more blessings on him and protect and guide him to enable him move from one level of victory to the other.
Anyone who has an objective mind will agree that Dr. Bawumia’s humility, kindness and respect for his fellow man is something that is genuinely true and beyond human comprehension. The Lord will continue to bless him to overcome all his enemies and rivals including all those who pretend to love him but dislike him in their hearts. In fact, he is known to be respectful, humble and loving to every person. Wherever he goes in this country, he does not carry himself high but is often seen to be bowing as a sign of respect and recognition to chiefs and all other people who come in contact with him. It is part of him, his behaviour and general attitude in life such that it flows naturally from him. He is not a pretender who does these things for votes.
UNIQUE PERSONALITY
All Ghanaians must, therefore, take note of his positive, unique and humble personality that he possesses to serve the people of this country. Many pretenders, both in government and opposition, may present themselves as good and influence people to accept them.
In all this, however, we need to open our eyes and siphon out the sheep from the goats. In this context, the sheep are the humble respectful entities that can truly serve our interests, not the goats who may be proud, pompous, victimising and destructive when given the chance to perform any function in this country.
True humility as we see in Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia comes from his inner spirit as a creation of God and it is this spirit of humility and love that is expressed to care for the cured lepers at Weija, going for them, and taking them back from time to time to the glory of God. He keeps saying that these lepers have been cured, so people should interact with them and show love to them at all times and on all occasions.
COMMENDATION
Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia is a devout Moslem who does not only respect Islam but also shows love and respect to people practising other religions including Christianity. Any time he’s invited by any church for a programme, he goes without hesitation to fraternise with his brothers and sisters in the church. It, therefore, came as no surprise when the king of Dagbon recently commended him and praised him for his wonderful way of life towards socioeconomic development.
Again, not long ago, the chiefs and people of Wa and surrounding areas in the Upper West Region also conferred on him a chieftaincy title, recognising his unique role as a wonderful citizen of Ghana. In all other parts of the country, people have seen his worth as a loving, respectful, humble and also someone who is always prepared to serve his country, Ghana.
UNFAIR ATTACK
Many people in opposition keep attacking him unfairly but had it not been him and his role in government, things would have been worse in the country, so let no one come and deceive us with atrocious lies.
God has blessed him so he will climb higher and higher as he is doing now to help this country to overcome its economic situation and be pushed into a higher level of socioeconomic development.
Email address/whatsApp number of author:
Pradmat201@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
