Features
On Ambassador Amerley Ollennu Awua-Asamoa – A Special Woman
H. E. Mrs. Amerley Ollennu Awua-Asamoa
Today, I share something about H. E. Mrs. Amerley Ollennu Awua-Asamoa, former Ghana Ambassador to Denmark, with concurrent accreditation to the Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
As I wrote a few months ago, there are many personalities and institutions that have contributed to or ensured the smooth running of things for Ghanaian migrants in Finland.
The exploits of such people are laudable and should be acknowledged publicly. Many of them have used their knowledge and abilities to help improve the lives of members of the Ghanaian migrant community in Finland.
What I write here also reveals some of my own experiences with the former Ambassador at a time when I was the President of the Ghana Union Finland (GUF) from March 2018 to March 2020.
Ambassador Awua-Asamoa presented her official credentials to the Finnish government in April 2018, and her role has had a great impact for the Ghana Union Finland and the entire Ghanaian migrant community in Finland.
During her time, the Ambassador led the Embassy to conduct the first-ever mobile consular services exercise in Helsinki in October 2018. Many people admired the professional, excellent and very helpful service rendered by the efficient Embassy staff.
For the former Ambassador, some of her top priorities included improving customer services at the Embassy. Many people attest to the fact that the complaints about consular services greatly reduced; they also extol the former Ambassador’s friendliness, good works and the opportunities for trade and investment towards Ghana as their home country.
Satisfaction indeed increased and fostered closer interactions between the Ghana Embassy in Copenhagen and the Ghanaian community in Finland. (In 2018, the Ghana Embassy in Oslo was established and it assumed accreditation to Finland in 2020).
Ghana-Finnish Relations and Diaspora Issues
The former Ambassador always emphasized Ghana’s effort for rapid industrialization and economic growth and development in a sustainable manner especially for future generations. To her, the Ghana Government’s flagship policies such as the ‘One-District-One-Factory’ and ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ are highly important for foreign direct investments.
Ambassador Amerley Awua-Asamoa paid working visits to Finland many times, more than any of her predecessors. She reinforced the relations with Finland, building on efforts by her predecessors. She always stressed the deepening relations between Ghana and Finland.
She visited many educational institutions and places of higher learning in Finland and engaged in countless dialogues with Finnish institutions for possible cooperation. To her, the government’s policy of diaspora engagement was a good way to utilize the needed investment to drive the industrialisation agenda.
Engagements with the Ghanaian migrants
The former Ambassador kept what she refers to as an open-door policy in her engagements with Ghanaian migrants in Finland. She visited churches dominated by Ghanaians to first introduce herself, and in her subsequent visits she engaged Ghanaians in Finland to acquaint herself and get first-hand information about their concerns.
She used such an open-door policy, as she once explained to me in an interview, as “a communication strategy normally adopted to win the trust of people, especially those that need one’s services, by opening your door widely to listen to complaints and advice without being selective”.
The Ambassador sees this as very effective when implemented well since it brings great satisfaction once people’s concerns are addressed in a transparent manner. “They feel respected and try to support your efforts, and this is what I believe in and my style of management”, she revealed.
There was good cooperation with the Honorary Consul of Ghana in Finland at that time, Ms. Ulla Alanko, as well as the Ghana Union Finland and indeed the entire Ghanaian community in Finland. In both 2018 and 2019, the Ambassador attended Ghana’s Independence Day anniversary celebration in Helsinki.
The Ambassador always expressed gratitude to the Ghanaian community, which she reiterated in her message at a farewell meeting (held virtually due to Covid-19) with the Ghana Union in late 2020 when her work at the Embassy ended.
Her rich experience and affability
Mrs Amerley Awua-Asamoa has a very rich experience. She was once the Executive Director of the Association of African Women in Development (AAWID), a Ghanaian local non-governmental organisation operating at the grassroots level for the socio-economic empowerment of the marginalised.
She earlier worked with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) as a Human Resource Management practitioner where she established a well-deserved reputation for her ability to rise through the ranks in a male-dominated environment to become the first female manager in the company.
In addition, she was very vocal in championing for gender mainstreaming and the development and implementation of HIV workplace policy in ECG.
H.E. Amerley Awua-Asamoa endeared herself to many Ghanaian migrants in Finland with her affable personality. Many people referred to her as “H. E” or “Maa” as a mother to the entire community.
In a nutshell, the work of the former Ambassador and the Embassy in attending to people’s needs is cherished by many in the Ghanaian community in Finland. This and her friendliness make her a special woman in the view of many people. Thank you!
PS: Last Monday was the birthday of the Editor, Mr. Emmanuel Amponsah. It also ushered him into his retirement, and I use this opportunity to express my gratitude to him. I appreciatively acknowledge his support to me and the cordial working relationship with him.
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.
By Perpetual Crentsil
Email: perpetualcrentsil@yahoo.com
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
