Features
Kamala Harris’ visit: Significance
• President Akufo-Addo with US Vice President Harris
The visit to Ghana by US Vice President, Her Excellency Kamala Harris, did not come about merely out of the blue but as a result of systematic and deliberate calculation on the part of the US government, seeing that Ghana is a great country in Africa and plays an important leadership role on the continent.
The leadership role played by Ghana can be seen in terms of peace, democracy, rule of law, economic development, and matters relating to security. These are issues that are of great importance to both Ghana and the United States.
VISIT
Against this background, the visit by Kamala Harris is significant in a number of respects. To begin with, the visit is meant to promote cordial relations between the two countries. The US is far away from Ghana and separated by the Atlantic Ocean.
In spite of this, the two countries are so close to each other because the world has become a global village, and what happens in one part of it affects the other. For instance, developments in Ghana can affect residents of the US, just as happenings in the US can also affect Ghana.
COLLABORATION
In the world of today, there is competition in the area of trade and other activities, but in spite of this, there is a need for great collaboration with each other. This collaboration can come in the form of economic cooperation, economic growth, and trade with each other. It is only when countries embark on this venture or go in this direction that there can be meaningful growth and development between countries.
Collaboration between Ghana and the US has become very necessary because no country is an island. For a country to be able to promote its economy, that country will have to collaborate economically with another. In light of this, the US has found it necessary to seek economic cooperation with Ghana in the interest of both parties.
Economic partnership in this manner has become very necessary. The two countries already have good relations, but in the world of today, there is a need to deepen this relationship so as to maximise the interests of both countries. Indeed, the visit to Ghana can be placed within the larger context of US-Africa relations.
SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP ROLE
Ghana is highly respected in the US because of the significant leadership role it plays in Africa. The US cannot visit all countries in Africa at the same time, but it chose to visit Ghana to symbolise its desire to promote US-African relations.
The just-ended visit focused on economic growth with Ghana, which is seen as an important player on the African continent. As was pointed out by Kamala Harris, it is the intention of the US to stimulate economic growth in Ghana and promote investment in the country. The promotion of investment is very important because that is what will lead to economic growth.
ENSURING SAFE SECURITY
In addition, the US is more interested in ensuring safe security on the African continent. Security is very important because, without such security, investment and economic growth cannot be effectively promoted in Ghana and the rest of the continent. In West Africa, the US is aware of the threat that is likely to occur in any country along the West Coast, and that is why it is concerned about helping countries in West Africa protect themselves against needless external aggression. Ghana has taken steps to ward off such possible external aggression but collaboration in this area is crucial not only to Ghana but to its foreign allies like the US.
It is against this background that Kamala Harris announced USD 100 million in assistance to countries in the West African subregion to fight any form of aggression and instability that may be promoted by terrorist activities and terrorism in general. The amount from the US is meant to assist countries like Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Togo, and Benin in their preparations against external activities usually stimulated by terrorism.
INFLUENCE GHANA’S EXTERNAL CREDITORS
What is also important about Kamala Harris visit to Ghana is the commitment of the United States to influence Ghana’s external creditors to help with the restructuring of its external debt and make it easier for Ghana to transform its economy. This appeal is most welcome, so Ghana needs to utilise it to achieve the maximum benefit. The US has therefore appealed to Ghana’s external creditors to do all within their power to assist the country in overcoming its economic challenges in order to have a successful encounter in the IMF negotiation.
One striking observation made by Kamala Harris is that Ghana’s economic difficulties have come about as a result of global economic challenges, namely the Russia-Ukraine war and also the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Great minds in the United States have therefore realised that the unfavourable economic conditions in Ghana have come about as a result of factors that are external to the country and over which Ghana has no control.
GREAT CONFIDENCE IN GHANA’S LEADERSHIP
The visit goes to show the great confidence that the United States has in the leadership of Ghana and the desire of the Ghana government to turn things around and make the economy better for all Ghanaians. This explains why a country like the United States is pledging great support for Ghana’s economic programmes to help it overcome its economic challenges.
The visit is very timely, especially at this point in time when external factors have made life unbearable for Ghanaians. It is a positive indication that Ghana is on the right path, and with a little support from its foreign allies, it will be able to overcome the challenges facing it. Compared to other countries in Africa and other parts of the world, Ghana, in spite of its economic difficulties, is very well positioned to strive and come out of its economic challenges. The argument by the opposition in Ghana that there has been reckless spending on the part of the government is neither here nor there, especially coming from people whose only political motive is to destroy the hardworking government in order to get the opportunity to come to power.
POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS
The positive developments going on in all sectors of the economy show that the country is on the right path, and very soon, the effect of efforts made today will be felt. Kamala Harris has left Ghana and continued to visit Tanzania and Zambia, which are also considered allies of the United States. It is expected that both Zambia and Tanzania will also maximise the potential benefits that they are likely to derive from the visit of the US Vice President.
In conclusion, it is gratifying to note that of the countries in Africa, the US chose to visit three countries, the first being Ghana, in order to deepen its relations on the African continent. Apart from matters relating to economic growth and development and security issues in Africa, the visit at this time was also meant to check the influence of Russia and China on the continent. The world needs peace everywhere, so it is expected that the African continent will pursue the path of peace, not aggression, with all its allies and collaborators to achieve peace, security, economic growth, and a better life for everybody.
Email address/whatsApp number of author:
Pradmat201@gmail.com (0553318911)
By Dr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
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.
Addressing a dispute might feel tense or awkward, but resolving the conflict is typically well worth it in the long run. Whether you are trying to mediate conflict between colleagues or are directly involved. Last week we looked at three and this week is the remaining four steps you can take to manage workplace conflict.
4. Find common ground
The best way to handle workplace conflict is to start with what you can agree on. Find common ground between the people engaging in conflict. If you are directly involved in the conflict, slow down and focus on results instead of who’s right.
If you are the mediator for conflict resolution between coworkers, observe the discussion and help point out the common ground others may not see.
5. Collectively brainstorm solutions
When deciding how to handle workplace conflict, it can be tempting to problem-solve on your own. Sometimes, it feels easier to work independently rather than collaboratively. However, if you want to achieve a lasting resolution, you will need to motivate your team to get involved.
Brainstorm possible solutions together, and solicit input from everyone involved on the pros and cons of each option until you settle on a solution that feels comfortable to everyone. This will help all team members feel a sense of ownership that can help prevent future conflicts.
6. Create an action plan
Once you have created an open dialogue around workplace conflicts, it is time to resolve them. Just like any other work goal, this requires creating a concrete plan and following through.
Create an action plan and then act on it. It does not matter what the plan is, as long as you commit to it and resolve the conflict as a result.
7. Reflect on what you learned
All conflicts offer an opportunity to grow and become a better communicator. Identify what went well and what did not.
Work with your whole team to gather learnings from the conflict so you can avoid similar situations in the future.
Today, I continue with my narration of personalities and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland, with a focus on Mr Joseph Osei Amoah.
Mr Amoah is one of the senior members of the Ghanaian community in Finland and a top member of the Ghana Union Finland, an association of the Ghanaian migrant community in Finland.
He is an active and a well-respected person in the Ghanaian community in Finland. Mr Osei Amoah moved to Finland in the mid-1990s, and he has lived in Helsinki all this time.
Accomplishments and honours
It is important to recount accomplishments as part of the success stories of the personalities of Ghanaian descent in Finland in order to highlight their exploits both within the Ghanaian migrant community and in the wider Finnish society.
Mr Amoah holds a Master’s degree in Demography from the University of Helsinki. At the time he came to Finland in 1994, he had majored in Economics at the Bachelor’s level at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Sometimes affectionately called “Chairman” in the Ghanaian migrant community, Mr Osei is a former Chairman of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) branch in Finland, assuming office around 2015, a few months after the branch was formed, until 2019 when he did not run again for the elections. He helped to bring vibrancy into the NPP Finland branch.
Religious life
Mr Amoah is a prominent member of the Global Methodist Church in Finland. In spite of his busy working life and other responsibilities, he remains a committed member of the Global Methodist Church in Finland.
He plays a key leadership role in the church, which is attended by many Ghanaian migrants and other African migrants, Finns, and those of other nationalities.
His position in Asanteman Finland
Mr Osei Amoah is an outstanding member of the Asanteman Finland, where he is the Gyasehene, a prominent position as a sub-chief in the Asante (and Akan) royal hierarchy, in the functioning of the traditional authority systemgenerally in Ghana.
The Asanteman Finland is an association formed purposely with the aim of supporting each other as well as to ensure unity among its members and others outside of the group.
One of its top priorities of Asanteman Finland is to display the Asante culture in Finland. Mr Osei Amoah finds this as very important since by upholding the traditional culture and heritage, the association enables its members and especially the young ones to get the chance to learn and appreciate Asante and Ghanaian cultural values. They do this through rites such as marriage, the naming ceremony, and death and funeral rites, which makes the people to learn more of their provenance and not forget their origins.
“My point is that, by displaying the traditional heritage it helps people to learn more about their provenance. For, I think it will be embarrassing to go home and see that even the young ones have much knowledge about how to perform certain rites whilst those of us in the diaspora may be deficient in understanding those practices”, he argued. It is also very important for the young ones who are born in Finland to learn what the culture of their original society is, he continued.
The Finnish educational system
Mr Osei has a lot to say about the Finnish educational system, which he sees as very good. “When we came to Finland, education was free. There were library books and manuscripts readily available in the library, and one could print or make as many photocopies as possible for your studies. There was more flexibility. One could read books and write exams on them for the necessary grades in order to complete your studies”. In his opinion, Ghana could learn much from the Finnish system, which is one of the best in the world.
He said the only initial challenge he found in Finland was how to master the Finnish language, without which it was difficult to get a job befitting one’s status after the studies. But things have changed today and there are many English courses so it is easy to study and get a job that matches your studies, especially in the area of ICT, he said.
His role in the Ghanaian community
Mr Osei Amoah has been very active in the Ghanaian community, as I have indicated earlier. He is still very active in the Ghana Union Finland, and has played a leadership in many functions organised by the Union, as a non-governmental organisation for the Ghanaian migrant community in Finland.
Mr Amoah has been a counsellor and mentor who has guided many young Ghanaian migrants on their career paths and has also been part in settling various kinds of conflicts between opposing parties or persons. In conclusion, I would say Mr Osei Amoah has succeeded in embossing his name in the golden pages of visionary Ghanaians in both Sweden and Finland.
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
