Features
Ghana card should not cause unnecessary chaos in electoral process
Knowledge, experience, forthrightness, frankness, outspoken, straightforward and above all intelligence, are skills that are acquired through constant perseverance and, therefore are not commodities that can be bought in shops, supermarkets or from the open markets.
They are acquired through patience, experience, fortitude and hard work among other good traits such as generosity, integrity, loyalty, devotion, kindness, sincerity and self- control.
IT PAYS TO LISTEN TO WISE COUNSELLING
This, therefore presupposes that, if persons who have over the years sacrificed their lives through toils, time, energy, experience, zealousness and intelligence to acquire these noble, enlightened and laudable skills, are not being selfish to themselves, but sharing, offering and giving pieces of practical advice and admonitions, aimed at unifying the citizens, ensuring absolute peace and moving this country forward in the right direction, all we need to do is to listen attentively with opened ears, weigh them, give them serious thoughts and apply them accordingly for the overall benefits and outcomes.
OPERATING WITHIN LAWS AND RULES
Ghana is a democratic country that operates strictly within a set of laws, rules, regulations, enshrined in our statute books and a Constitution crafted by eminent citizens in 1992 to direct and regulate our operations and our way of living.
Therefore, the 1992 Constitution document, serves as a Bible from which the country takes inspiration from and is governed. Our leaders are required to be guided by the provisions under the 1992 Constitution in all their undertakings for the overall benefit of our country. Going contrary to these provisions means you have violated the laws and, therefore ready to suffer the consequences, thereof.
There is this saying that, “Even in the animal kingdom, where stupidity is their main object, sense is applied.” This, therefore implies that, even in the animal kingdom, there are set of rules and regulations within which they operate.
In order to avoid or prevent potential chaos and other nasty incidents in our beautiful, peaceful and dear country we all cherish most which will eventually create a volatile and insecurity situation for ourselves in the future, we have to strictly conform and abide by the tenets of the 1992 Constitution which is our Holy Bible. Nothing should be done outside the laws we have set for ourselves, otherwise, posterity will never forgive us.
GHANA CARD AND RELATED CONTROVERSY
One particular issue that had for the past month been trending in the social media outlets and other traditional news sources in the country, is the ambition by the Electoral Commission (EC) to use the Ghana Card as the only source of document for the continuous voter registration in the country.
Last month, the EC placed before Parliament, a draft C.I. titled: Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations 2021, which is expected to regulate continuous voter registration.
Per the new C.I, which would become law after 21 sitting days of Parliament, the EC is seeking to make the Ghana Card the sole form of identification for eligible voters who want to get unto the electoral roll. That C.I. has been referred to the Subsidiary Legislation Committee of Parliament of which by convention, it is chaired by a member of the Minority group.
The law requires that orders, rules or regulations made pursuant to provisions of the Constitution or Act of Parliament, must be laid before Parliament for 21 days before they come into force. Any such subsidiary legislation so laid are referred to the committee to determine whether it is in accordance with the general objectives of the Constitution or the Act pursuant to which it is being made.
PROTESTS FROM THE NDC AGAINST GHANA CARD
Even before the EC had laid the new C.I. before Parliament, the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) party, had accused the EC of planning to compile a new voters register for the 2024 general election, with the Ghana Card as the only source of document.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, said any move by the EC to compile a new voters register with Ghana Card solely as the mode of identification would not augur well for the country, especially when the EC had already expended huge sums of money to compile a new register which was used for the 2020 general election.
The EC debunked the assertion by the NDC and said the new C.I. was only meant to regulate continuous registration, with the Ghana Card as the source document. “WE are not compiling a new voters register. The one we compiled in 2020 is a credible one, a very good register, so we are not dispensing it,” the Director of Electoral Services of the EC, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, told the media.
MINORITY INVITES EC TO EXPLAIN
It appears that when the new C.I. was laid in parliament for the first time, there were heated debates, with the minority asking the EC to come and explain the rationale for the use of the Ghana Card as the only source of document.
In the midst of this heated controversy, the former Chairman of the Electoral Commission, DR Kwadwo Afari Gyan, a distinguished long serving EC boss with 22 years of service between 1992 and 2015, most experienced, knowledgeable, well vexed in electoral issues in the country and beyond, has waded into this sensitive and crucial issue, asking the EC and for that matter, the government to reconsider the use of the Ghana Card as the only source document for the continuous registration of new voters, otherwise it can disenfranchise millions of qualified electorate.
According to him, with many Ghanaians finding it difficult to get their Ghana Cards, making it the only form of identification for voter registration, was against electoral inclusivity, fairness and justice.
AFARI GYAN SPEAKS OUT ON GHANA CARD USAGE
Hear this intelligent, outspoken, eloquent, straightforward and frankly speaking former E.C. Chairman of highest international repute; “Ghanaian citizens don’t lose their citizenship if they are 18 years or older, but do not have the Ghana Card. So, the moot question is: why make the Ghana card the only means of identification for purposes of establishing eligibility to register to vote?”
He alluded that the fact that the number of people with Ghana Cards included those below the voting age of 18, and juxtaposing that, with the Ghana Statistical Service’s projection that people age 18 years and above would hit 19.5 million in 2023, the potential for many people to be disenfranchised as a result of the use of the Ghana Card as the only source document for voter registration was high.
Dr. Afari Gyan advised the EC to take a careful look at its insistence on the Ghana Card because in spite of its crucial role in elections, the EC was not the decider of elections, but rather the electorate. The electorate are the kingmakers.
So, a basic responsibility of any electoral commission is to facilitate the realisation of the people’s right to register as voters, and not to obstruct that right by demanding for registration purposes, documents that are not easily accessible to the people,” he cautioned.
So far, the National Identification Authority (NIA) had issued out 15.7 million Ghana Cards to applicants out of the 16,969,034 it has registered for the cards.
AVOIDANCE AND PREVENTION OF POTENTIAL CHAOS
Yes, the former EC Chairman, has hit the nail right on the head with profound pieces of advice to the Electoral Commission, the various political parties and the government on the way forward and they have to listen with clear conscience and opened ears.
Let us face the truth and the fact that if we are interested in ensuring clean, peaceful, fair and credible election in the country, come 2024, then we must adhere to these wise counselling from no other person than our own accomplished electoral think tank who had seen it all and stands tall among his peers when it comes to organising elections in Ghana, Africa and beyond.
His exemplary leadership in the past must be emulated and strictly followed by the current crops of those at the helms of electoral process in our dear country. To be forewarned, is to be forearmed, says Francis Hooke in 1685. A word to the wise is enough!
By Charles Neequaye
Writer’s email:ataani2000@yahoo.com
Contact: 0277753946/0248933366
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
