Features
Let us declare war on ‘Red’
Imagine riding in a taxi on a highway and the driver suddenly suffers from a cardiac arrest. Again, imagine you are undergoing surgery, and the Doctor performing the surgery, suddenly suffers a cardiac arrest.
These are very frightening scenarios indeed but it is something that can be our reality if drug abuse is not given the attention it deserves.
There is an Opioid called RED which is so dangerous given its effect on the human body and the brain. A documentary shown on TV about the effect of this particular opioid on some youth, was heartbreaking.
A person under the influence of RED, could stand motionless and then fall down completely helpless, like someone who is under the influence of a deep sleep. How can someone addicted to this drug, think about his future and therefore take any steps to ensure that future is realised?
This is certainly one of the dangers facing us as a country, should a sizeable number of our youth fall victim to RED.
A medical doctor was explaining the effect it can have on a person’s health aside of the physical ones that is apparent like mobility restriction. This is where the danger to society comes in.
Depending on the depth of addiction, you cannot readily identify a person who uses drugs. A drug addiction is basically a ticking bomb just waiting to explode. Most violent crimes are attributed to drug addicts.
Under the influence of drugs, their sense of compassion is completely eroded and so their inhibition to inflict pain or harm another person is non-existent. A drug add addict who is poor, is someone who can be easily manipulated for evil deeds. When given the promise that he or she should take a certain action in exchange for drugs, he or she will not think twice.
Just imagine a drug addict in a banking institution or some other similar very sensitive institution; such a person will be prone to blackmail for instance and the danger he or she poses to society is unimaginable.
There is an urgent need to tackle this threat on our youth and therefore to our nation. The usual approach to solving issues of this nature, will not work and must not be adopted.
The root causes instead of the symptoms, must be tackled. The channels through which these dangerous drug reaches the country must be blocked or severely controlled.
This will ensure that should they be required for legitimate use, it is issued by the appropriate authorities such that it cannot be abused. Those who are illegally smuggling them into the country, must also be severely dealt with.
The punishment regime for drug pushers, must be so severely that it will serve as a deterrent.
My only hope is that this RED menace will be confronted with all the seriousness it deserves and not dealt with like the galamsey fight that has been turned into a political football game.
This fight against RED must never be allowed to suffer the same fate. It must be all hands on deck because when the drug pushers attempt to influence someone to buy their drug, they di nit ask if which party the person belongs.
They are not interested in knowing which party a prospective buyer belongs to. All they are interested in is selling their RED and getting more people addicted so their selfish, evil and illicit business so they will get more money.
Our children are in danger and every parent should worry because they are not always with us and the influences they are exposed to in school are overwhelming.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
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
