Features
Pride of leadership
I Read Government. And I believe I know what governance is supposed to be. However, I don’t understand politics. I have tried not to give myself the headache of trying to understand what it is all about. I guess I have a fair idea about democracy and its nuances. I have a fi rm belief that every society must practise democracy to suit its peculiar culture, customs and norms, not what is dictated by foreign or external forces.
I have observed that global leadership is dictatorial. America is a typical example, where democratic processes inside of that country are followed to the letter, yet the US dictates what other countries must do. Then comes in Donald J. Trump. We all have seen what Trump did to the democracy America prides itelf in. On January 6, 2021, his supporters descended on Capitol Hill and vandalised the very cradle of that country’s democracy. When you elect a rabble-rouser President, what do you expect? Pride and arrogance of leadership cost him the presidency in last year’s election. Pride of leadership has caused the collapse of empires, dynasties and governments. Empires like the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, British and others have come and gone. Indiscipline of leadership in some cases drowned these empires. Some were caused by the powers behind the thrones. Many of those powers were wives, concubines, fathers or even siblings who wielded power over the emperors, kings or whatever fancy
nomenclature they went by. Sadly, many modern leaders have not learnt from the history of these empires and strut around as if they are the chosen ones of God to run people’s lives. And this is my worry. I keep saying that a disciplined child cannot be born of an undisciplined parentage. The calf watches the mother’s mouth as she munches the grass, not so? Ghana’s Minister of Finance has gained notoriety for disrespecting parliament. Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta chooses to go deliver the economic policy of government at a time convenient to him while the lawmakers who would approve or disapprove the policy sit on their haunches waiting for him. Simply put, this is pride of leadership. If our leaders cannot respect institutions of state and their protocols, what business do they have in leadership? This is not an attack on the person of the Minister, but he is an example of what is festering in our national life. President Nana Akufo-Addo is noted for his punctuality at state events. I remember he was to attend the 170th anniversary of the founding of the Presbyterian Training College at Akropong in 2018. Because of our offi cial lateness to events, I almost did not attend though some of us had a special invitation as old students from the Principal. President Akufo-Addo was there before the scheduled time. Former President John Mahama hardly respected time when he was in offi ce, but Prof. Atta Mills was a Pride of leadership
stickler for punctuality as President Akufo-Addo. I had the opportunity of covering an event involving former President Kufuor at Sekondi in 2002. He was late. When I asked my buddy, former President Jerry Rawlings, why he attended certain functions late, he only answered that it was all “for effect.” I did not know what that meant but I let it pass. It is perfectly in order for public offi ce holders to be late for any event because of the workload they carry or for whatever reasons. But it is a mark of good leadership, maturity and respect for others to send a message to the gathering that for XYZ reasons, you are unable to beat the time and that you should be given whatever number of minutes to be present. You win respect as a result. But what do our offi cials do? They saunter into the programme before ranting out apologies when those gathered are either tired, angry or agitated by this offi cial behaviour. No sooner had that budget statement been delivered than the Minister in charge of roads, Mr.
Kwasi Amoako-Atta, decided that all toll booths be shut down on the country’s highways. I am told this minister is himself a member of parliament and knows the Standing Orders and their protocols. How come he could order the closure of toll booths when the House had not approved the budget statement? Indiscipline, if you asked me. Or is it pride of leadership? Leadership must inspire. Leadership must be exemplary. Leadership must encourage others to want to strive for leadership positions in service to their people. Leadership must be honest with the people. It must show a commitment to serve and not run roughshod over the people. With this behaviour of some of our leaders, what do we expect of those who will come after them in future? Personally, I do not care how our public offi ce holders conduct themselves in their offi cial positions, but they must be mindful of the signal they are sending to the youth who are acclaimed as the leaders of tomorrow. Where is the tomorrow for them if we corrupt their today with our negative attitudes? Give the Devil his due. In spite of accusations of highhandedness, Salifu Amankwa brought a certain discipline to the Nkrumah Circle area of the capital. Discipline is the watchword here.
Ten years after he left and more years after his death, people were still afraid to walk over the lawns around Circle anyhow they pleased. Leadership must uphold discipline at all times. What are human rights when lawlessness pervades the very fabric of society? Ghana did not go before Nkrumah. And all of the leaders who have gone have left Ghana behind. So, this country will be there after we are all gone, but the Ghana we leave for the generations after us will determine how history and posterity will judge us.
Writer’s e-mail address: akofa45@yahoo.com
By Dr. Akofo K. Segbefia
On Sunday, October 11, 2026, it was the turn of Ghanaian Catholics in Finland to lead the singing in the church service of the African Catholic Chaplaincy in Finland (ACCF).
It was indeed a spirit-filled feeling for worshippers present. And for the Ghanaian migrants, the occasion also brought back to them memories of church services in their home country, Ghana.
The ACCF has a roster for each country/community to sing from time to time. Next Sunday will be the turn of the Nigerian community. Other communities that usually sing are the Kenyan/Tanzanian community, the Cameroonian, the Ugandan, group, etc.
A powerful religious experience
The mass services of the Chaplaincy usually give a powerful religious experience and a display of cultural diversity, especially in occasions such as when the Bishop of Helsinki, Bishop Raimo Goyarrola, celebrated mass with the Chaplaincy on Pentecost Day, May 24, 2026.
There was a similar time of spiritual joy last month (September 27, 2026) when Emeritus Bishop Teemu Sippo, former Bishop of Helsinki, visited the Chaplaincy. Bishop Teemu was the main celebrant, assisted by the Chaplain, Reverend Father Thomas Otieno.
Last Sunday, Reverend Father Bernard Sor, a Ghanaian Catholic priest based in Austria, was the main celebrant in the mass service where he performed a rite of baptism. Fr Bernard had celebrated mass a few months ago when he visited his sister and her husband in Helsinki. 
All these well-attended religious occasions indeed leave lasting memories. The homilies (peaching) by the priests usually emphasize religious tenets such as the importance of loving and serving God in truth, existing in peace with our fellow humans to promote unity in diversity, etc.
Unity in diversity and a colourful display of cultures
The African Chaplaincy church services usually produce impressive displays of diverse cultures from different parts of Africa and elsewhere. The events are often spiced by rich cultural displays of dances and colourful attires which are a delight to watch.
On special occasions, members of the Ghanaian Catholic community, in their gay and colourful kente attire and with adowa dance and music, usually lead the procession into the church. Other communities such as the Cameroonian, Nigerian, Kenyan and Tanzanian as well as Sudanese/South Sudanese groups also put up well-choreographed performances from their cultures.
The African Catholic Chaplaincy in Finland
The African Chaplaincy was founded on June 4, 2017, which was a Pentecost Sunday, in a Pontifical High Mass celebrated by Monsignor Emeritus Sippo S.C.I., the then Bishop of Helsinki, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Parish Church in Helsinki.
The Chaplaincy was created by Bishop Teemu in collaboration with the Diocesan body when they detected a great flocking of African immigrants to Finland, the majority of whom were Catholics. This was to give the immigrants a possibility to integrate into the Finnish society by worshiping as Catholics and in their African cultural identity.
The responsibility of the Chaplaincy was given by Bishop Teemu to Father Dr Leonard Wobilla Shwei, who is thus the first Chaplain and ably led the Chaplaincy. He was succeeded a few years ago by Father Thomas Otieno, who continues to move the Chaplaincy forward. 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
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She did not find out he was cheating. She found out he was drowning.
It was two weeks after their beautiful wedding. The jollof was still in the fridge. A loan officer called her number-not his-and politely asked, “Madam, please tell your husband to pay his overdue loan. We have been calling him.”
That was how she discovered her new husband had entered their marriage with a hidden debt of over GH¢ 40,000. No cheating. No other woman. Just a financial secret.
And that is how many Ghanaian marriages begin to die. Not with a shout, but with a secret alert on a phone.
We prepare for the wedding. We do not prepare for the wallet.
What is money honesty?
Let me define it simply. Money honesty is not that you both earn the same. It is that you both know the same. It is the ability to sit down and say without fear:
“This is how much I earn.”
“This is how much I owe.”
“This is how I was raised to see money.”
“This is what scares me about money.”
Financial transparency is not about control. It is about clarity. You cannot build trust on top of secrets.
Many couples tell me, “Counsellor, we love each other, love will handle money.” I always answer, “Love is the car, but money honesty is the fuel. Love without honesty cannot move.”
How To Buy Your Marriage Insurance Today – My 5-Step Protocol
If you are engaged, newly married, or even 20 years in marriage, you can still fix this. At Counsellor Prince & Associates Consult—CPAC, this is what I give couples:
Step 1: The 90-Minute Money Naked Session.
No phones, no blame. Each partner writes down on paper: Monthly income, monthly debts, monthly family obligations, savings, and your biggest money fear. Then you exchange papers. Read it. Don’t react for 24 hours. Just absorb.
Step 2: Create OUR Money, YOUR Money, My Money.
You need three pots. OUR money for rent, food, school fees, utilities, properties, and the like— joint contribution. YOUR money and MY money—a small agreed allowance no one questions. This stops the feeling of being controlled.
Step 3: The No-Secret Debt Rule.
Agree from today: No new loan, no new hire purchase, no new family financial commitment above GHS 500 without telling each other first. Not permission, but information.
Step 4: Talk About Your Money Personality.
Are you a Spender or a Saver? Are you Risky or Safe? Most Ghanaian marriages are a Spender married to a Saver. Neither is wrong. But if you don’t understand your partner’s personality, you will call his saving “stinginess” and her spending “wastefulness.”
Step 5: Do a Monthly 30-Minute Money Date
Not an argument date. Light, with tea. “How did we do this month? What worried you? What should we plan for next month?” Couples who do this divorce far less.
My Final Word
Before you say “I Do” at the altar, have pre-marital counselling and also have the money talk on the sofa.
Ask your partner:
“If I lost my job today, how long can we survive?”
“What debt are you bringing into this marriage?”
“How much do you send to your family monthly and will that continue?”
If he or she gets angry that you asked, don’t get married yet. A person who is angry about accountability will be abusive about money.
Marriage insurance is not bought at Star Assurance or Enterprise. It is bought in honest conversations when no one is watching.
The wedding costs one day. The marriage costs a lifetime. Don’t enter a lifetime contract and covenant with hidden costs.
You can still insure your marriage today.
Source:
Counselor Prince Offei, CPAC’s founder, is a leading Mental Health Professional, Marriage Counsellor, Author, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, and Spectator Newspaper Columnist. He writes on relationships, marriage, parenting, special needs support, and their connection to mental health. For therapy, counselling, or enquiries, contact Counselor Prince & Associates Consult (CPAC) in Accra on 0559850604 / 0551428486.
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