Features
Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland and entrepreneurship
There are a number of Ghanaian businesses in the Diaspora
Experts have noted that the rise of various Diasporas and their economic exploits has been a huge advantage regarding financial resources and skills or knowledge for development in many countries.
It is becoming increasingly common for members of the Diaspora to become entrepreneurs in their host country and eventually transfer their businesses to their country of origin. Moreover, many countries are making efforts to attract their Diaspora members for investment and development efforts.
As I wrote some time ago, the migration-remittances-development nexus has already evolved members of the Diaspora into transnational agents whose activities involve the circulatory flows of remittances or people and their ideas.
Diaspora expertise and entrepreneurs
There are many members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in the advanced countries who have acquired huge expertise, knowledge and resources (academically, economically, technically or technologically, etc.) and would like to get back home to establish something productive.
Some are engaged in the freighting business to transport goods in containers to Africa, while others own small companies and other businesses, particularly in the services sector, and they can even use that to finance other businesses at home.
Many can also offer consulting services for the growth of our dear nation.
Universities of Applied Sciences in Finland
There are over 20 universities of applied sciences in Finland, aside from the multidisciplinary and specialized universities.
According to information on the website of the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, the universities of applied sciences operate as public limited companies in the Ministry’s administrative branch.
The Finnish name for a university of applied sciences is “ammattikorkeakoulu”, which literally means “school of higher vocational education,” although such universities are also considered polytechnics.
Entrepreneurial education in Finland
Existing studies show that entrepreneurial education has rapidly developed in the last two decades and continues to do so in many countries.
Scholars define entrepreneurial education as activities intended to develop people who want to try to become entrepreneurs and enhance their understanding and knowledge about entrepreneurship and business.
Generally, in Finland, studies at the universities of applied sciences include plenty of practical exercises and a practical training period.
For example, the Haaga-Helia School is one of Finland’s largest business universities and is owned by a foundation run by Helsinki’s business community. It is fully supervised and accredited by the Finnish government through the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Haaga-Helia’s Research and Business Development Centre also produces training services for associations and companies. It is thus obvious that the institution can easily build connections for its students with potential companies, entrepreneurship or self-employment.
Ghanaian migrant entrepreneurs
Most migrants in Finland, including the Ghanaian Diaspora, are gainfully employed either as paid workers in the Finnish public and private sectors or as entrepreneurs and self-employed, according to researchers who have studied entrepreneurship among migrants in Finland.
Many Ghanaian migrants in Finland are engaging in entrepreneurial activities. I know that most of them have set up their own businesses, either in the health sector, the cleaning sector, shopkeeping, a salon or barbering.
What I do not know is whether the entrepreneurs had entrepreneurial education anywhere or from one of the many universities of applied sciences in Finland.
Many of these Ghanaian-immigrant entrepreneurs in Finland are either planning to expand or have already expanded the businesses they have set up here in Finland. At least I know some of these, and I plan to write about them in due course. Thank you!
By Perpetual Crentsil
Email: perpetualcrentsil@yahoo.com
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
