Features
‘No nonsense’ Prof. Frimpong-Boateng spill the beans
Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng
With the greatest respect and special permission from my colleague journalist and Member of Parliament for Sagnarigu Constituency in the Northern Region, Honourable Alhassan Bashir Alhassan Fuseini, popularly known as A.B.A. Fuseini, who is imbued with hilarious adages that can even resurrect the dead, I quote this adage from his repertoire to buttress my point and set the record straight. “When you have cotton wool on your anus, you don’t have to jump a fire; otherwise, you will set yourself in flames and burn to ashes”. Similarly, there is another saying that says, “When you stretch and push a person firmly to a wall, he will eventually explode when he manages to extricate himself “.
PROFESSOR FRIMPONG-BOATENG
Such is the case of a cool and collected Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, one of Ghana’s foremost and finest heart surgeons of international repute and the brain behind the establishment of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, situated at the country’s largest health facility, the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. The learned professor was a one-time former Minister of Environment, Science and Technology in the first term of the current administration led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
I have known this great and knowledgeable professor for many years, dating back to the days when I was a senior reporter with the state-owned Ghanaian Times newspaper. Since I was then reporting and writing on health issues, I came into contact with this nice medical officer and international surgeon when he set foot in Ghana in 1992 to set up the prestigious Cardiology Centre at Korle-Bu. At that time, there was no such facility in the country, so his aim was to establish the centre to carry out various heart surgeries and also to train young surgeons in that particular field.
HOW PROF. CAME TO GHANA
Professor Frimpong-Boateng, as I know him, is such an objective and principled man who believes in the truth, abhors lies, is forthright and resolute in his actions and dealings with people and patients as well. He came to Ghana from Germany, where he had been practising medicine for many years, through the instrumentality of the late former President, Flt-Lt. Jerry John Rawlings. He performed the first open-heart surgery in Ghana using a heart-lung machine.
For the benefit of my readers, patrons, and the younger ones who do not know this great man who has a lot under his sleeves, I will like to use this medium to enlighten them on a little background of Professor Frimpong-Boateng, who has been my good friend for many years. We are still friends, although it has been a long time I came into contact with him.
WORKING EXPERIENCE OF THE LEARNED PROF
The learned professor joined the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS) as a lecturer in 2000 and was promoted to Associate Professor the same year. He was made a full professor in 2002 and served as the Head of the Department of Surgery at the UGMS prior to his appointment as the Chief Executive of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in that same year. It may interest my readers to know that during his tenure at Ghana’s largest and foremost hospital, Professor Frimpong-Boateng, managed to transform Korle-Bu into a first-class and modern hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa. His greatest exploits encouraged patients from Africa and beyond to travel to Ghana to seek medical attention at Korle-Bu. This man was able to reclaim most of the Korle-Bu lands, including that of the medical school, which were encroached upon by squatters, and provided a fence around them. The entrance to the hospital was given a tremendous facelift by this man with offices and packing lots.
Professor Frimpong Boateng was elected to the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in December 2002 and he gave his inaugural lecture the following year. He was instrumental in the formation of the Ghana Heart Foundation, a charitable foundation which is responsible for paying for heart surgery for some indigent Ghanaians under his care. The finest surgeon felt that “he has what it takes to lead this country to the highest pedestal when it comes to politics” and, therefore, decided to offer himself in the presidential primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
POLITICAL CAREER OF PROF
In March 2006, he announced his intention to seek the nomination as the candidate of the NPP for the December 2008 Presidential Election, but his hope was dashed as Nana Akufo-Addo emerged victorious in the primaries. When Nana Akufo-Addo finally became president in the 2016 General Election, he appointed Professor Frimpong-Boateng as a Cabinet Minister in charge of Environment Science and Technology. It was during the first term of President Akufo-Addo that the illegal small-scale mining popularly known as “galamsey” took on a different dimension, which led to the formation of a special inter-ministerial committee led by Professor Frimpong-Boateng to see how the situation could be brought under control.
ILLEGAL SMALL-SCALE MINING
Tried as he could, the situation got out of hand because, as he alleged, certain personalities within the Akufo-Addo-led government were having underground dealings with faceless people involved in the galamsey business. At a point, he (Prof. Frimpong-Boateng), was implicated as having diverted some seized excavators and other machines that were seized by the taskforce. That, he flatly denied, and this had been a subject of contention until this time. He rather accused a number of high-profile personalities within government circles, including Gabby Otchere-Darko, a leading member of the NPP as those behind the illegal galamsey business in the country. He said Gabby interfered in his galamsey fight to rid the system of these nation-wreckers. Since then, there has been banter between Gabby and Professor Frimpong-Boateng on this thorny issue, which has polluted our water bodies, destroyed our forest cover, and had a devastating effect on the country’s ecology.
CALL FOR THOROUGH INVESTIGATION
Professor Frimpong-Boateng has since submitted a paper on his allegations to the Presidency for thorough investigations into the matter so that those mentioned in his report can be interrogated to establish the truth and deal with the matter accordingly. It is the hope of every Ghanaian that this particular case should be thoroughly investigated not swept under the carpet as in most cases.
This illegal small-scale mining issue has dragged on for some time now, and it looks as if there is no solution in sight. The eminent chief and traditional ruler, Asantehene Osei Tutu II, has been vocal about this unhealthy situation and has gone to the extent of warning some of his sub chiefs who are deeply involved in this treacherous and devasting business to refrain from the practice. Clearly, it is emerging that there are government functionaries who are deeply involved in this galamsey business, and we need to expose them.
POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDERS TO NOTE
Professor Frimpong-Boateng who is a staunch member of the ruling NPP administration as I know him, will not fabricate and peddle lies against his own party functionaries and appointees just for the sake of it. He is so principled and will never tread on that path of lies and untruth. That is why this matter should engage the attention of the prosecuting agencies to deal with the case independently for the truth to prevail.
This is a lesson to all political appointees and office holders in the country: they cannot suppress the truth and go scot-free because they will one day be exposed and dealt with accordingly.
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By Charles Neequaye
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
