Features
Let us remember Kofi Annan
Kofi-Annan
There is a popular saying in Akan that ‘Onipa yε ade a, ᴐsε ayeyi’ which literally means any person who does a good thing de¬serves praise. Hence, Ghana¬ians in general have a culture of remembrance.
That is why Ghanaian names like Nana Yaa As¬antewaa, King Osei Tutu I, Okomfo Anokye, King Asamani, King Tackie Tawiah, Kwame Nkrumah, Jerry John Rawlings among others are but only a few of the names that stand tall amongst the numerous illustrious sons and daughters of mother Ghana.
They contributed im¬mensely to the progress of our beloved nation. These are names of our heroes and hero¬ines that will hardly be erased from our memories.
Nevertheless, Kofi An¬nan was one of such famous Ghanaians whose popularity extended to the length and breadth of the globe. It was therefore, no wonder that the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II conferred on him the high traditional title of ‘Bo¬sumuru’ Kofi Annan, when he was alive, for making not only Ghana proud, but also the whole of black skin Africa and beyond.
Now, let us learn who Kofi Annan was: Born in Kumasi, Ghana, on April 8, 1938, his parents were Henry Reginald Annan and Victoria Annan; both of blessed memory.
Brilliant as he was, young Kofi Annan was educated at Mfantsipim Secondary School, Cape Coast where he success¬fully completed his courses of study.
In 1958, he gained admis¬sion to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.
In 1962, the United Na¬tions Organisation, otherwise known as U.N.O. employed him as Administration and Budget Officer.
In the course of time, he became Under Secretary General for the U.N.O peace keeping programmes.
His long service and experience in the U.N.O, coupled with his high sense of brilliance and integrity enabled him to gain absolute confidence of the U.N.O body to be the first person to be appointed from the U.N.O staff as Secretary General of the U.N.O.
He served for a two-term period in office, from 1997- 2005 and became the seventh U.N Secretary General since its inception in 1945.
Bosumuru Kofi Annan had great passion for human rights advocacy which was his greatest legacy for the world. This unfolded in two of his last addresses he gave at the meetings he addressed which I had the opportunity to cap¬ture on television documenta¬ries telecast to viewers.
The salient points of the addresses have been present¬ed below for the benefit of readers as the lifestyle of this eminent citizen of the country needs to be emulated by our present generation.
In his capacity as the sev¬enth U.N Secretary General and a former post-graduate student of Massachusetts In¬stitute of Technology (M.I.T), he spoke eloquently about the following.
Boston Class of 1997
1. He applauded those who stood behind them both physically and spiritually to enable them; then as students in 1997 to successfully pursue their courses of study.
2. Whilst a student of the Institute, he learnt manage¬ment skills that helped him to achieve his goal.
3. In his days in the Insti¬tute, there were no women amongst them but happily as he was speaking on that day, there were several women amongst the latest batch of the students present.
4. According to him, to live is to choose and one has to choose wisely. He considered any challenges that came to him as ways of finding means to improve his life.
5. He lamented about suf¬fering of humanity, especially children dying of hunger due to wars in countries like Cam¬bodia and other places.
6. He continued that, in 1996, the U.N General Assem¬bly applied a ban on weapons of scourge but in spite of that, other states were seeking means to bring back these weapons of devastation of human lives.
7. Education: Being a role model to the African youth education, he advocated for universal education of our children. He held the view that it was not necessary that all children should obtain University Education.
He said other children could be given skillful edu¬cation like trade, technical; so that after their course of study, they could establish their own works or industries.
Addressing U.N workers in a country
He said he was so happy to be with them. That the U.N members are to reach out to the people. We talk of a glob¬al village. We need to have common values. As citizens of global village, we need to reach out to the people; ie in our communities, we should come together to do things that can improve our commu¬nities.
As individuals, we are not powerless. We have power when things are getting out of hand. We should come to¬gether to make things better to improve the lives of our communities.
We need to listen to one another for our own educa¬tion; and concerns of others must be adhered to. It is always rewarding to share experience with others. Real peace building is prevention of conflict or violence. We should find out how to ensure young people are well repre¬sented in political administra¬tion of our countries.
Kofi Annan’s last interac¬tion with Ghanaians; cap¬tured on Joy TV on Saturday, 15/09/2018
“We need to build strong teams. When they are em¬powered to work and they shine, you as a leader will also shine.”
In hard moments, you look for support from your team, both physically and spiritu¬ally. Life starts from home, school, communities, locality, district, region, nationally and internationally. Therefore, in our own locality, when there is something wrong, we should all come together to share ideas to enable us solve the problem.
Quotes of Kofi Annan
• “Any attempt to change clause of veto power of the seven U.N.O Super Na¬tions of the Security Council, could generate acrimony, antagonism and animosity.”
The Seven Veto Power Super Nations of The U.N.O are Britain, America, Canada, Germany, France, Russia and China
2. “Whereever we live it is ideal to confront ignorance with knowledge.”
• “I have always be¬lieved that on international issues, the leaders must lead. We have the means of dealing with political issues if only we have the political will”
Interventions
1. He was responsible for certifying Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon.
• He helped to settle the dispute between Cam¬eroon and Nigeria over the Bakasi Peninsular awards: In 2001, he was awarded Noble Peace Prize jointly with the U.N.
He was also awarded the Indira Gandhi Order of the Star of Romania and several other awards.
Death and funeral
He died in Bern, Switzer¬land, on 18/08/2018, at the age of 80years. His mortal remains were flown to Ghana.
The Government held a befitting state funeral in his memory from September 10 -13, 2018, at the forecourt of the State House, Accra, Gha¬na. May his soul continue to rest in eternal perfect peace in the bosom of his maker, Amen.
Marriage:
He was survived by a wife, Nane Kofi Annan and two children; Kojo Annan and Ama Annan.
Tributes
• By former President of the U.S Mr Barak Obama
“Long after he had broken barriers, Kofi never stopped his pursuit of a better world and made time to motivate and inspire the next genera¬tion of leaders.”
• By Rev. Bro. Pious Agyeman:
Bosumuru Kofi Annan brought honour not only to Ghana but Africa in general. His vision was without peace, there cannot be progress for humanity.
Hence, he called for co-operation among countries of the world and that human rights of all persons of the world regardless of race or colour must be principally upheld.
• He gained the high re¬spect of both the members of the U.N and countries of the world despite his black Africa skin.
By a concerned citizen, J.K Tetteh- Kpodjie
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
