Features
Education and the Ghanaian diaspora in Finland
Education in Finland was free until 2017
Today, I focus on educational exploits of Ghanaian migrants in Finland, their work opportunities and the positive image they have created within the Ghanaian migrant community and in Finland generally.
I have been writing about different aspects of the Finnish educational system as well as how it affects migrants in Finland.
There are many positive things that Ghanaian individual migrants have achieved in the area of education that need to be stressed.
Educational opportunities in Finland
The Finnish education was free until about 2017. The Finnish educational system offers both the majority population and minority (including migrants) the chance to work while studying or after their studies.
Thus, the privilege of education enhances the potential of such migrants who study in Finland to become skilled workers in banks, as lawyers, medical doctors, nurses, engineers, ICT specialists, entrepreneurs, technical and semi-technical personnel in the country.
In recent times, some trained migrants are beginning to find jobs as experts and top-level personnel in the health, educational, and the service sectors of the economy.
Ghanaian migrant graduates
Many Ghanaian migrants have graduated from educational programmes in recent years, such as in the Health Care (Nursing) courses and other popular English-language study curricula.
Others have been educated in the engineering and technology sector; business and management; computer science and information technology (IT); natural sciences and mathematics; and education and training.
As I wrote some time ago, according to the Study in Finland portal, Finnish higher education institutions currently offer over 500 bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes taught in English. There are also countless doctoral degree programmes (see www.studyinfinland.fi).
Today, from the over 2000 Ghanaian migrants living in Finland, there are hundreds of them who hold the bachelor’s, the master’s, or the PhD degrees. There are also countless others who have graduated with the diploma.
Education and the job market
Research has shown that most migrants are gainfully employed either as paid workers or as self-employed entrepreneurs.
Studies show that migrants often have unstable or marginal positions in the Finnish labour market as cleaners, waitresses, and bouncers in pubs.
However, as mentioned already, many Ghanaian migrants have become skilled workers in banks, as lawyers, medical doctors, nurses, engineers, ICT specialists, and entrepreneurs, technical and semi-technical personnel in Finland and they are excelling in their areas of work.
Gender aspects
Having opportunities to education is very much pronounced for both males and females, without any hindrances along gender lines in terms of admission into programmes and finding a job after graduation.
Although I do not have the specific number of Ghanaian (international) students who are admitted to Finnish universities or who graduated and gain employment, I can say that they are quite visible in Finnish institutions and in the job market in Finland.
In addition, there are those who have ventured into entrepreneurship. This is an area that is gaining much attention in the entrepreneurial space in Finland.
Integration and inclusion through education
Finland is committed to the integration of migrants into the Finnish society, and a number of research studies from surveys and other in-depth enquiries have shown a trend of increasing efforts to integrate African and other migrants into the Finnish society.
One key area through which migrants can easily be integrated is the educational sector. For example, the work of the Finnish National Agency for Education is aimed at increasing equality and open-mindedness in education and internationalisation among others, according to information on its website.
One of the key points here is that supporting the integration of migrants, developing the teaching and education of learners with a migrant background and building a diverse society play an important role in achieving those goals (see www.oph.fi/em/news). Thank you!
The writer is a Ghanaian lecturer in Finland
By Perpetual Crentsil
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
