Features
Examining the ‘conduct’ of 2 new DCEs
The Government just released the much awaited list of 260 nominees for the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive positions across the country.
By law, their confirmation by their respective Assemblies will qualify them to assist President Akufo-Addo to govern the country at the local government level.
Mr. Lawrence Edutuah-Asiaw is now the newly installed District Chief Executive (DCE) of the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District in the Central Region.
Mr Edutuah-Asiaw delivered an emotional speech after his confirmation at the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District Assembly Hall.
His speech, reportedly touched the hearts of many people in the Assembly Hall, thus, moving some to tears.
He said when his name was announced as the nominated DCE of the area, he heard some people saying: “His mother is a beggar and for that matter, he does not deserve the DCE position.”
He stated; “because of politics people who have no idea about my upbringing, are saying my mother begs for food to feed herself and her children and questioned the basis of my appointment.”
A graduate with a degree in Education, Mr Edutuah-Asiaw said, a lot of people expressed reservations about the sour comments made by such people about his appointment.
According to 29-year-old Edutuah-Asiaw, he was rather inspired by such comments , “because if a beggar’s son can be elevated to such a position, by the grace of God, then truly there is nothing impossible for ‘the living God’.”
He said; “in life, God prepares people to shine lights in your path, and my mother is one shining example of a person who moved all odds to ensure that l received what she was not privileged to have, ” adding that; “that is the essence of humanity.”
Mr Edutuah-Asiaw pledged : “I will not disappoint my mother, myself, the President and the entire District for this honour done me,” stressing; ” I will serve the District with all the energy God has gifted me.”
He expressed his gratitude to all the people who played various roles in nominating and consequently confirming him as the new DCE of the District.
Mr Edutuah-Asiaw was among 22 aspirants in the District who were interviewed for the position of DCE of the area.
Some of the spectators who witnessed his confirmation gathered in small groups after the ceremony; with some whispering intently: “Who Jah bless, no one curse.
“Impossible is not a ring-tone of God; the future is unknown for all humans and it is not only the rich ones who must attract the eyes of God.”
All the 46 members of the Assembly voted “YES” to confirm Edutuah-Asiaw as the new DCE, thus, exceeding the two- thirds legal minimum requirement.
On Friday, October 1, 2021, the President’s nominee for the position of DCE in the Nanumba South District, Mr Issifu Zakaria was also reportedly confirmed by the 40-member District Assembly.
He obtained 28 YES-votes against 12 NO-votes, representing 70 per cent of the required votes to be approved.
Shortly after his confirmation, however, Mr Issifu Zakaria and his supporters allegedly seized the official vehicle of the Assembly which was being occupied by the out-going DCE who witnessed the ceremony.
Reportedly, the outgoing DCE was forced out of the vehicle and his belongings thrown out for the new DCE to take over the vehicle.
Eyewitnesses claimed, the outgoing DCE was left stranded and helpless until a Good Samaritan arranged for a private car to take him home.
It is said that “failure is an orphan” while “success even attracts very distant relatives.” Because the outgoing DCE was not re-nominated by the President, he has suddenly become an orphan while the new DCE is attracting more and more ‘distant relatives’ he hardly knows.
Some of the spectators who witnessed the embarrassing scene reportedly remarked; ” it is unfortunate the new DCE acted the way he did, disgracing the outgoing DCE who attended the ceremony to help confirm him as his successor.
“The new DCE acted without regard to formal ways of doing things. Is the vehicle not supposed to be handed over officially to him?
“If the seizure of the vehicle is an aspect of Mr Zakaria’s leadership style, then Nanumba South District will soon be plunged into chaos.
“Is it not the same Zakaria who led demonstrations in the aftermath of the NPP 2020 parliamentary primaries at Wulensi, leading to destruction of the party’s office and the party’s pick-up vehicle; because his preferred candidate failed to win the primaries? “
Wikipedia defines ‘conduct’ as the manner of guiding or carrying oneself; personal deportment; mode of action and mode of behaviour. In effect, ‘conduct’ means a person’s behaviour, especially from the standpoint of morality and ethics.
Readers, from the foregoing, while the ‘conduct’ of Edutuah-Asiaw deserves commendation, the ‘conduct’ of Issifu Zakaria must be immediately and urgently investigated by the government.
It is by proper and thorough investigation that the truth of the matter will be established.
And if found culpable, this column strongly recommends that Mr. Zakaria must be severely sanctioned to serve as deterrent to other new DCEs who are cast in his “terrible mould.”
Contact email / WhatsApp of the author :
asmahfrankg@gmail.com ( 0505556179)
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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
