Features
Girls@war on MTN
If you are a male, elderly and use an MTN number prefixed with 024-4, you are likely to identify with my concerns in my epistle for today. However, if you are not on the social media WhatsApp platform, you will miss the fun. But, truth be told, it is not funny at all.
As a journalist I get to scour social media platforms for news gossips, though not all things on these platforms are edifying. My favourite is Facebook where I endeavour to engage ‘friends’ in intellectual discourse. I limit myself to just a few categories. I do not accept ‘friendship’ from people who do not post their photograph profiles and those who use unreal names for identity.
I am quick to ‘unfriend’ people whose requests I accept yet do not communicate with me. I have noticed people with up to 46,000 friends on Facebook and wonder why it is so. I do not know if they present them as part of their curriculum vitae (CV). I have shut down my Instagram account as I consider it a ‘madhouse’ and follow no one on Twitter.
Now, since the beginning of this year, I have been assailed by as many as 18 girls on Whatsapp; girls who are not on my contact list. They post profile pictures that qualify them for beauty contests any day.
Their modus operandi is a simple ‘Hi…’ When you respond in like manner, she introduces herself and tells you where she lives, then proceeds to ask your name. If you do not respond to the initial ‘hi’ many of them let go. Some wait for a couple of days and reconnect.
Not all their identities are captured by the Truecaller app, but I have devised a way to get their identities. In all cases, save one, they turn up to be who they claim they are. The one exception was one who claimed to be a student at the Nursing Training School in Koforidua and said she wanted a relationship with me but was short of funds to pay her fees. She needed my help. I told her my niece taught at that school so I would get to her through my relative. All her response to this was “Fool,” and deleted our chat immediately thereafter.
Anytime I ask how they got my contact, their answer mostly is that they get it from WhatsApp. I give them the benefit of the doubt, but what runs through is their lack of communication skills. How are you? I’m a beautician. I’m fine, you? These are the only way they converse.
Then after a week or two, they ask you to send them money to pay medical bills for their ailing mother; never their father. I tell them in plain words that I am unable to help, first, because I do not know who they are, whether their demand is genuine and go on to ask if they look for people on Whatsapp to help their ailing relatives.
One, who claimed to be a “fashion and designer,” (whatever that means) living in Nzema, wanted to visit me in Accra after saying ‘hi…’ for four days and wanted me to send her GHc500 for transport. Seeing through this, I asked her to find her way to the capital and I would pay her transport fare. That was the last I heard from her.
I own multiple numbers from all the Telcos, but why these girls only target MTN baffles me. Even with MTN, I have prefixes 024-2, 054 and 055, but it is only the 024-4 they contact me on in spite of the fact that all the others are also on Whatsapp. Or am I the only one these girls take a fancy to?
These are really girls at war. A bold one asked to be my friend on Facebook. Seeing she was friends with many people from my family, church and friends, I accepted her friendship. Her profile painted a picture of someone who graduated from the University of Ghana, lives somewhere in the capital and is into beauty therapy.
A couple of months later, she asked if I was on Whatsapp. I gave her one of my numbers. She asked what I did and I asked her to check my profile on LinkedIn, Google or Facebook. I asked if she wanted my CV. She did not know what a CV was. That was proof she never went to Legon.
One morning, she sent the usual greetings and, out of the blue came, “When can I make love with U?” I almost felt giddy. Then I called my brother in Koforidua to find out about this girl. He said he had many friends on Facebook he hardly communicated with, adding he was rarely on that platform lately. My other friends could not remember her. My brother cautioned me against a possible blackmail.
Later, my response to her was, “Really? But we hardly know each other and U don’t know if I’m married or not. Secondly, I’ve seen that U are friends with two of my brothers on Facebook and very good friends of mine too. And I don’t have relationships without telling my siblings bcoz of my position in society, so I’m at a loss as to how this can work out.” Unfazed by my response, she shot back that she had feelings for me.
How girls can spray their pheromones all over social media befuddles the mind. When I returned to check her out on Facebook, it turned out that she has many accounts to her name, and her photographs are on full display.And all these girls are below 30, far younger than my youngest daughter who turns 36 today.
I don’t know if the economic situation in the landis what drives these girls into this rather aggressive mode of soliciting sustenance or they are just there to fleece lascivious or lecherous men who might be game for their escapades.
A lady friend gave me a perspective on this. She tells me that the young men of their generation, to start with, are not as romantic as the elderly ones. Next, all they think of is sex, sex and more sex. To them sex is coterminous with love; nothing more, nothing less. She adds that young women are looking for love and affection and the elderly men fit the bill.
Why then do these girls make financial demands? My friend did not have a ready answer to this, but surmised that some might be driven first by financial considerations. “They are likely in the category of desperados who want money at any cost,” she quipped.
But there is one who claims she wants an elderly, but experienced, man to take her under his wings and teach her what life is all about. She says she is ready to introduce her ‘mentor’ to her family in case doubts arise. As espoused by Rev. Dr. F. K. Fiawoo, a pet snake may appear harmless in its infancy, “…but the tendency to prey upon man grows in proportion. And soon you have at home a ferocious animal with all elements of atrocity fully developed.”
One other thing I do is to give them the Whatsapp number of a fund administrator. They are asked to provide verifiable details. For example, which hospital the ailing relative is, name of the physician, contact of the health facility etc. None has so far provided any details.
Personally, I lay no claim to be tech savvy but is there a way our Telcos can protect their clients from unsolicited ‘attacks’ from people not on their contact list? Or can Whatsapp protect us from these spams? But then, why do these girls target only MTN users?
I know I have not seen the last of these girls. Indeed, they are girls at war, but I am ready for them.
Writer’s email address: akofa45@yahoo.com
By Dr. Akofa K. Segbefia
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
