Features
Ghanaian migrants in Finland and social relationships
● Ghanaian migrants in Finland at an event
I have recently come across some studies about migrants and social relationships. Such studies, done in other European countries, revealed interesting things about the social lives or relationships of the migrants, and I started thinking about what happens with Ghanaian migrants in Finland.
So, today, I write about Ghanaian migrants in Finland and social relationships. It is not totally based on any academic study; rather, what I write here is based on my personal observations and the opinions of some Ghanaian migrants in Finland, although I also rely a bit on my own research about African/Ghanaian migrants here.
The nature/types of social relationships of migrants
According to researchers on migration, a perspective of migrants’ commitments builds on insights into global flows while providing a focus on place, human agency, meaning making, attachments, and life strategising.
Sets of migrant networks ranging across kinship, friendship and workmates in Ghana (country of origin) and in Finland give Ghanaian migrants the chance to interact with myriad groups of people, networks and situations.
Social networks of family, friends, migrants associations, etc., have become important points for providing information and education about healthy lifestyles, social relations, and improving wellbeing.
What I wrote some time ago about the social lives of aging Ghanaian migrants is true for even younger ones too. They all strive to keep social bonds. There is a form of reasoning in which the meaning of the social world is objectified through family (kinship), friendship, and other ties.
Family bonds
A key contribution of the family, based on the kinship system in the various groups in Ghana, is the sense of belonging derived from the family bonds the Ghanaian migrants have both in Ghana and here in Finland.
Kinship and friendship ties in both societies of origin and settlement are important since these network connections constitute a form of social capital that people can draw upon for various reasons and benefits—including employment, solidarity and sense of belonging.
Friendship networks
Ghanaian migrants enter into friendships with fellow migrants and others in Finland. Sometimes, the networks of friendship ties can become even stronger than family ties.
Like family bonds, friendship ties in both societies of origin and settlement, and Ghanaian migrants can draw upon this as a form of social capital.
Civic participation
Ghanaian migrants in Finland engage in various activities as part of civic participation. Such activities include volunteering for local organisations and agencies, or as members of clubs or Ghanaian associations.
As I mentioned previously, migrant associations are increasingly focusing on social lives and how to help improve the wellbeing of people such as migrants.
Generally, such associations seek to serve as a platform to combat loneliness and as a way to protect the mental health and physical wellbeing of older migrants, especially the senior citizens, if you choose to call them so.
Loneliness
One of the key issues most Ghanaian migrants talk about when they meet is how to avoid or at least reduce loneliness and boredom.
In a small study I did about African migrants (including some Ghanaian migrants) I found that some of them engaged in gambling practices in order to avoid becoming bored at home.
Many migrants indulged in practices just to avoid loneliness and boredom. For example, some migrants engage in gambling and value the practice as a means of avoiding boredom, marginalisation and other problems in life.
The way forward
Many Ghanaian migrants find various ways to keep relationships alive in order to prevent loneliness and boredom.
Public agencies, migrant associations and other non-governmental organisations in Finland are advocating the good health and wellbeing of people, especially migrants.
Many migrant groups or associations are using social media platforms and virtual meetings to educate their members and others about the importance of keeping positive social lives for a healthy life. Thank you!
By Perpetual Crentsil
Email: perpetualcrentstil@yahoo.com
THE typical itinerant salesman in Sikaman is a herbalist. He is normally a slim macho with the capacity to perambulate the expanse of area covering the triangle of Accra-Tema-Ashiaman. In short, he can walk a total of 60 miles a day, marketing a product that cures every disease, including poverty. 
The door-to-door herbal pharmacist advertises his product by word of mouth. He has nothing to do with the Food and Drugs Board (FDB). After all, his concoctions do not feature on FM stations.
Those herbalists who cannot walk to propagate the herbal gospel, liaise with drivers of mass transportation and their mates. They are, therefore, given the chance to sell their products on Benz buses that ply the routes.
Normally, the herbalist starts his sales message with a prayer and Bible study. He asks the passengers to bow down their heads in supplication to God the father, the son, the Holy Spirit.
When a herbalist asks the passengers to close their eyes and bow their heads, Moslems on board naturally feel offended. They feel that the herbalist has no right to assume that every passenger is a Christian. They think such an assumption is an affront to Islam.
So a Moslem on board will raise the hand for a point of order. He’ll remind the herbalist that it would be in his own interest to mind his language.
“Be careful the way you address people in a public place. Not every person here is a Christian,” he’d state assertively.
Of course, the herbalist will promptly ignore him, but would all the same “watch” his tongue. Who knows whether or not the Moslem brother is inspired by Quoranic zeal to defend the tenets of Islam to the hilt?
When he starts saying, “Wallahi!” and “Inshallah!” it could be the beginning of proclaiming Islam as supreme, a point which must be driven home with talibanic precision.
So the herbalist must tread carefully lest he steps on fire.
The herbalist could even add a measure of mirth to it all, by announcing that Christians on board today have very interesting company on the journey, but that should not detract from the business of the day.
The Moslem brother will weigh the words carefully and offer a wry smile.
He must be careful the occasion does not degenerate into the use of semantics and proverbial oration to deride his conviction that public utterances must be mindful of religious sensibilities. He has made his point very clear and expects that it is taken in good faith in the interest of a peaceful journey.
The herbalist will now open the New Testament and preach salvation, stating clearly that salvation can come only through Jesus Christ and NOBODY else.
The Moslem brother will now start twitching his moustache. The visible and almost revolutionary reflexes of his upper lip can be an indication that sentiments have begun superseding reason, and the outcome could well be tragic now shift uneasily in his seat.
The time has come for him to also express his right to the religion of his fore-bears. He’ll put his hand into his pocket and rise to his feet. The time has indeed come!
This article was first published on Saturday, September 9, 2006
When the cause of a particular problem like sickness, disease, sudden illness, a social issue etc. are not known, it stands to reason that resolving it becomes a huge challenge.
Citizens would understand the government when public announcements are made to the effect that government is trying to find a solution to the issue, even though it is taking a while for it to be resolved because citizens are rational beings.
On the other hand, if the solution to a particular issue is known to everybody but the government for whatever reason, is dragging its feet in resolving it, citizens become frustrated and begin to lose trust in their leaders.
One such issue is the heavy traffic along a section of the Kasoa – Odokor road. A short stretch of bad road between the traffic light at the Weija Government Hospital and the entrance to the entrance of the overhead that leads to the N1, is the cause of the problem but nothing is being done about it, day after day, week after week, month after month. Thus is clearly unacceptable.
Another issue that requires urgent attention is the lack of pavements along a lot of streets in parts of the various Municipal Assemblies. Exercise is a prerequisite for long life and healthy living and for those of us who it has become a way of life, this issue of people putting up structures right to the edge of the drains beside the roads, are making life difficult for us.
We are compelled to walk along the roads, putting our lives at serious risk. Pedestrians should never be compelled to compete with vehicles on our streets and roads. Roads and streets are made for vehicles and pavements are made for pedestrians. That is the norm. Any attempt to normalise a situation where pedestrians are mingling with vehicles is insanity.
It is the road regulations that makes it so and therefore district or municipal assemblies are to take responsibility and ensure that spaces for pavements are not encroached upon. Citizens have rights that must be protected by their leaders and making pavements available to pedestrians, is one of them.
When we hear of teachers having sex with students, it appears it is something recent. It is not a new phenomenon. It has been there since Adam. Perhaps this issue is getting much attention due to the proliferation of social media. It was an open secret in times past when Teachers were in relationships with female students and some married them immediately after completion of school.
Some teachers were also known to be having unholy interactions with female pupils but due to the times that these acts occurred, human rights issues and the awareness around it, allowed such unscrupulous teachers to get away with their crimes.
Now we are in a different era and so a Headmaster is now in hot waters. He is alleged to have raped about 19 female students and as usual, some officials tried to cover it up and are also in hot waters and their actions or inactions in the matter are under investigation.
Why the man has been allowed to roam freely without being arrested is simply mind boggling. It appears that the law applies differently, depending on who you are. This issue came to public attention sometime in August this year, yet the police had not arrested or invited this man for question regarding the rape allegation.
It has come out that he is a Constituency Secretary of the ruling party and the question in the public domain is that, is it because he is a political figure that is why he is still walking around without questioning? I believe in the rule of law so let us hold our breadth and let the proper thing be done.
The police must however be seen to be active in this matter. God bless.
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
