Features
Let us pray for her and the others
Last week Wednesday was a day in the life of this nation that I believe every well meaning Ghanaian will like to quickly forget. Most people were greeted with a very, very sad breaking news.
The crash of a military helicopter with some government officials on board and that initial reports indicate that there were no survivors. As someone who has experienced the loss of a loved one, not just a loved one but a spouse, I could empathise with the families of the men who lost their lives.
Such terrible news of this magnitude, has the potential of affecting the mood of the whole nation. It can cause individuals who did not have details of the announcement of the incident to panic.
If my phone had been off that fateful afternoon, I do not know what may have happened to my sister who was aware that I was flying to Kumasi and heard news of a plane crash.
She later told me that she did not have the courage to call my number, hence the earlier call from her husband to me to ascertain whether I was alive or not.
On a personal level, the news was devastating because I had heard that the father of one of the eight was a distant relation. If the sad news impacted me so much, how about the mother of one of the lost souls who I learnt was her only child.
If this is true, then she deserves our special prayers for God to console her. I can imagine what she went through when she first heard the news of the passing of her only son and not just an ordinary son but a man of repute.
If you take into account the culture of our country, parents’ expectation is for their children to bury them when God finally calls them home.
Therefore it is a very unfortunate situation when the person you expect to bury you, gets taken away suddenly by death and death in the manner that it happened. I recall a woman in Obuasi who passed away on hearing of the death of her prominent son, who was a work colleague.
The woman was on a sick bed and passed on when someone broke the news to her even though she had other children who were still alive.
Usually when news of a road accident or vehicle crash resulting in death or deaths, it is taken as one of the normal life’s occurrences. Though sad, it usually does not affect us the way it would if the people involved are not close to us. When those involved are close to us, it takes on a different meaning altogether.
The life of a shining star in a family suddenly cut short, is a traumatising experience. In fact talking from experience, you first get a shock when you get the news of the passing of a close, loved one. Time stands still for a moment.
Then comes the whys and then what am I going to do. It is not a pleasant experience at all. It is not uncommon for people in such situations to collapse. That is why parents, spouses and children of the departed, require our prayers so God can comfort them in a way he only can.
One other person who also needs our special prayer is the spouse of one of the eight who is reported to have gotten married a few months ago. The loss of a spouse, a few months after marriage is so shattering and some psychological help must be made available to her.
It is very important that this is done to enable her regain her sanity and to move on in life and for the others as well. Through counselling, they would gradually and finally come to accept the reality of their loss and move on. May God have mercy.
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
