Features
Let’s cherish and value our own instead of these wild vilifications
The word vilification means the act of saying or writing unpleasant things about someone or something in order to cause other people to have a bad opinion of them. An act of vilification is capable of inciting hatred, ill-will and disaffection towards someone or attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse. Such behaviour is so offensive and cannot be tolerated whatsoever in a society which seeks the welfare of its people.
OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOUR
There are situations where people considered to be your own brother, friend , family member or companion will smile at you, eat and drink with you, interact with you more often and frequently, work in a friendly and cordial at mosphere with you and above all, do everything with you in common, but inwardly, that person will be pretentious and doing all these things for fun as he or she hates you and have no regards for you whatsoever. That is nature and we must be on guard to fish and flush out for such pretenders.
I have decided to go on this tangent because of what is happening in the Ghana Police Service (GPS) in recent times in which the Inspector General of Police, the overall boss of the Ghana Police Service is being willfully maligned, attacked, accused and vilified by his own senior police officers for no apparent reasons.
COMMITTEE TO PROBE THE LEAKED TAPE
On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, a leaked audio recording, allegedly involving a Police Commissioner and a politician discussing a plot to remove the IGP, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare from office circulated on social and the traditional media. Consequently, the Minority Caucus in Parliament, called for a probe into the leaked tape. The Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin in his wisdom, constituted a seven-member bi-partisan Committee to authenticate the audio and probe into the se cret recording of an alleged plot to remove the IGP from office ahead of the 2024 general election. The committee which started its work on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, was mandated to report back to the House on September 10, 2023, but that had not been successful due to on-going investigation.
AGGRIEVED POLICE OFFICERS IN COURT
It appears that there is a pend ing court case involving some 82 aggrieved police officers who have sued the Attorney General, the GPS and the IGP for acting unfairly and capriciously concerning the failure of the service to promote them. According to them they were due for promotions after the completion of their studies, through the study leave with pay policy, of the service, but they were yet to be promoted several months after the completion of their studies. Since the matter is still pending, I do not want to go into the merits and de merits of the case to avoid conflict with the law.
What is more worrying and disturbing is the personal attacks on the competence and integrity of the IGP by the three senior officers – COP George Alex Mensah, Superintendents George Asare and Gyebi, who had earlier testified before the committee with wild allegations against their boss which necessitated the invitation of the IGP by the committee chaired by Samuel Atta-Akyea (NPP), Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South with James Agalga (NDC), MP for Builsa North as his vice. So far so good.
IGP BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
When the IGP appeared before the committee on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, it was emotionally stricken but astute policeman that he is, he was able to control his emotions as he tried to defend himself against the wild allegations that have been levelled against him by his own officers in the service. His initial comments were so sorrowful and indeed heart- troubling. After initial argument between his legal team and the committee that the three senior police officers who have levelled allegations against their client should not sit through the IGP’s testimony, the chairman overruled that objection with the view that their presence was not in any way going to be injurious to the IGP and that they would not be allowed to interject in the proceedings at any point in time. When cool atmosphere was established, the IGP, flanked by his lawyers and with the support of senior management of the Ghana Police Service, set the ball rolling with his initial comments after the chairman had asked him whether he had listened to the tape in question.
INITIAL COMMENTS BY IGP
Hear the IGP; “Honourable Chair, thank you and thank you to the members of the committee. I will like to say that Hon. Chair, if you will permit me, I will like to make a few opening remarks. Honourable Chair, there have been a lot of is sues about my person and I will like toi take the opportunity to speak to a few of them, for about the next three to five minutes”. Honestly the two to five minutes remarks travelled about 20 minutes without interruption. He spent most of his time talking about his family matters and his upbringing, academic achievement, Christian background, where he was raised during infancy, how friendly he has been to friends and colleagues and indeed, giving explanations, clarifications, debunking the allegations that had been made about his person and the police service under his leadership. He ended up by saying, “honourable Chair, I am here, being asked to answer to wild, unsubstantiated allegations by my brothers, in order to cover up their shame. I am ready, thank you.”.
PAINFUL AND HEART-BREAKING
It was so painful and heart-breaking to me and many others who were glued to their television sets to watch and listen the chief executive of our national security apparatus – Ghana Police Service pouring out issues he claimed he knew nothing about. Right now, it is left to the committee to weigh the IGP’s testimonies against that of his accusers- the three senior po lice officers and establish the truth in the allegations
PROTECTING POLICE INTEGRITY
This particular encounter, has brought to the fore the need for people to appreciate hard work and tenacity of purpose, respect for authority in spite of political differences and no matter where one finds himself or herself because the future is unknown. We should not allow politics to divide our ranks and create disaffection and hatred for ourselves. It is important to bid our time and wait for the opportu nity to show up.
Let us remember that the Ghana Police Service is a noble institution established by law to protect and safeguard the lives of the people and ensure that they move about freely. It is an institution that de mands confidence and respect from the people and therefore if officers from that institution do not have confidence in its leadership, then we are doomed as a country. The service must therefore be freed of politics to enable the institution to operate effectively.
Contact email/WhatsApp of author:
ataani2000@yahoo.com
0277753946/0248933366
By Charles Neequaye
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
