Features
DStv, Telcos vs Consumerism
Have you ever paid for an item, got home only to realise that item was defective? Then you took it back and you were told once you took it away, nothing could be done about it and you felt dejected.
You bought power from our own Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and suffered a power outage half of the time.
The experiences enumerated above can be very frustrating, not so? Or you went to a spot and asked for a bottle of Coca Cola and the steward brought you a Pepsi Cola instead.
In their minds they are all Cola, no? Then you send your ward to the butchers to purchase mutton and they bring beef home. You go to have the stuff changed only to be met with insults.
Service providers who you paid upfront will deliver a below-par service and get you angry and frustrated. We suffer in silence because many of these are monopolies who do not care about their clients/customers.
You will understand this if you subscribe to DStv bouquets. All that gets to you when you are watching your favourite channel and cumulus clouds gather.
The signals go off and you scratch your head in utter dismay until the clouds dissipate or after the rains have come and gone. DStv will not compensate you for the hours of lost signal.
What comes on your screen is, “There is no signal. This may be due to bad weather or faulty connection in the installation.”
At a point, I called their Customer Service and the lady I spoke to was frank enough to tell me they have no technology to avoid this occurrence. I cannot fault the poor employee, but this does not make any sense. In New York where rain clouds are darker and thunder claps seem to blow your eardrums, satellite television signals do not get interrupted when it rains.
Thunders do not clap in our parts; they only rumble mostly and are not as severe as in the temperate regions, yet satellite signals drizzle once weather itself drizzles rainwater.
The simple answer is that consumer rights do not work in our parts and we do not get angry with service providers enough, especially since some of them do not have competition in the marketplace.
Multichoice, managers of DStv, do not seem minded to invest in technology to keep their clients served irrespective of whatever the weather condition is.
The responsibility of protecting television sets from lightning must rest with the individual owner, not the service provider.
Every Ghanaian seems to own one cellphone or another. This undoubtedly makes life a lot easier for us. But then it is worrying to call a number and the response is that the number you are trying to reach is either switched off or is unavailable.
Many hours later you get through and the person tells you their phone was never off. What accounts for this must be explained by the Telcos.
You call an MTN number and you hear, “The AirtelTigo number you have dialed cannot be reached at this moment. Please, call back later.” AirtelTigo, when you dialed an MTN number? I have a number of MTN numbers especially, and at times I call one from another and I am either told the number cannot be reached or that the number does not exist. How come, when the two phones sit on my table near each other? Can our Telcos explain this?
Methinks the agency responsible for communications should come up with a legislative framework that makes it mandatory for every call to come with identification so as to eliminate scammers in the mobile telephony system, except perhaps numbers of national security interest. In other jurisdictions even calls to landlines come with the Identity of the caller.
Also, numbers patched with the Ghana Card must of necessity reflect when the bearer makes a call. This has the potential to eliminate fraudsters.
It beats my mind that numbers I have not acquired could appear on my Ghana Card as mine. Now with Artificial Intelligence making the waves, only goodness knows what tomorrow may bring.
So far, it is only the Glo network that registers incoming calls even when the recipient’s phone is off. I have not noticed this with the others.
Another annoying phenomenon is when you buy an item, paid for it and after having your receipt, it is stated at the bottom that goods purchased are not returnable. I wonder who came up with this stupidity. I do not think this can stand a test in law, unless there is a bold display of this edict that cannot escape the attention of the customer so that they are aware before making any purchases, otherwise they have a right to return goods they are dissatisfied with.
Having stated all the above brings me to Consumerism in Ghana. Attempts have been made to form consumer groups but those charged with the responsibility of legislating on consumer concerns do not seem to know what to do or are just indifferent. I was a member of a Consumer Protection Movement of Ghana in the late 80s but no matter how hard we tried, our efforts fell on deaf ears.
Consumerism is a big thing in many countries the world over, but it looks like our leaders here do not have a clue as to what Consumerism is all about. The fact that Ghana has a Standards Authority must be the impetus to couch legislation to protect consumers.
In many jurisdictions almost every product is covered by warranty, except perishable consumables which are themselves covered by standards. So, what sense does it make for me to buy an item here only to read that once I have purchased and paid it cannot be returned? How about if the product turned out to be defective?
But can they be blamed? If those elected to take care of us and protect us from capitalist cheats are looking elsewhere, who would not take undue advantage of us? This, of course, is no reason for corporate laxity.
Consumer satisfaction must be the driving principle of goods and service providers because, after all, without consumers no enterprise can flourish. Monopolies must not make a fool of their clients and our government owes us a duty to protect our wellbeing at all times.
*Writer’s email address:*
*akofa45@yahoo.com*
By Dr Akofa K. Segbefia
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
