Features
Qatar 2022, the West and Africa
The FIFA Mundial has got off in the oil-rich nation of Qatar and our own Black Stars are among the elites of world football to showcase what stuff they are made of.
I have a gut feeling that Ghana’s national team will spring a surprise this time round. As ambassadors of this country, it is my expectation that our boys will lift high the flag of Ghana at the tournament.
My concern today is not about the game itself but about how some Western media platforms have treated the host country in their respective narratives since Qatar won the bid to host the tournament as long as 12 years ago.
Western media practitioners are largely ignorant about the rest of the world. In their commentaries, they falsely posit that the Gulf state only started playing football just a couple of years ago. The truth is that Qatar started playing football in the late 1940s.
The West has a jaundiced perception of all Islamic countries and this is mirrored in their media reportage. The sufferings these countries have gone through to reach where they are, are completely lost on the Western media.
They harp on abuse of human rights and dictatorial tendencies, intolerance of dissent and lack of freedoms. Some even suggested, and campaigned, that the tournament be moved elsewhere because of a so-called ill-treatment of migrant workers in Qatar.
I have no reason to defend Qatar and its treatment of migrant workers. But my search revealed that this is not a state policy. Rather, there are rogue employment agencies that recruit workers under situations akin to enslavement. Some of these agencies are only out to make money out of people desirous of eking a living to support their families back in their respective countries. These agencies have collaborators in the job seekers’ countries.
When these rogue agencies get mentioned to the media by aggrieved and affected migrants, the Qatari Government is blamed. Of course, it makes sense because the government has the duty of ensuring that its labour laws are respected by both employers, agents and employees. However, many agencies operate outside of the laws till someone dies in the line of work and the media raises a flag.
A young friend of mine lives and works in Qatar. Though he is desirous of migrating to the West, he tells me he is well treated as an expat, but also agrees that many blacks are treated badly by their employers. The racist slur, he says, is as rampant in the Gulf as it is in many Western countries.
People work in deplorable conditions in Europe and the Americas. Racism and racial abuse are daily occurrences in these countries but their media projects them as safe havens. You should listen to tomato pickers in Iberia telling their tales.
America and Europe will like to impose whatever catches their fancy on the rest of the world. If you don’t dance to their music, either you are a dictatorship or a pariah state. Or dictating to the rest of the world is not dictatorship?
These Western countries expect you to conform to their way of doing things when you are on their territory. The adage of, “When you go to Rome, do as Romans do,” applies here. However, they expect their citizens to not live by the dictates of countries they visit. This is hypocrisy.
When journalist Jamal Kashoggi was brutally murdered and his body chopped and put in acid on the orders of then Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, then candidate Joe Biden (now US President) swore not to let the Crown Prince off the hook. Today, Joe Biden has granted MBS (the then Crown Prince) immunity from prosecution because he has been appointed Prime Minister of the Saudi Kingdom.
When America under Bush and Britain under Blair killed Saddam Hussein, did they know he was the president of Iraq? When America under Obama and France under Sarkozy got Gaddafi murdered, did they know he was the president of Libya? When it’s for political and economic expediency, the West will throw integrity out the window.
Qatar is an Islamic nation with strict religious edicts. If you want to visit, you are expected to live by the tenets of their belief and way of life. Western media is trumpeting their fancy LGBTQ+ idea as a freedom the authorities in Qatar must subscribe to. Are we there to play and enjoy football or we are there on an orgy of sexual gratification the way it suits our fancy?
As the football tournament progresses, the Western media is looking for cases of arrest of visitors for acts that offend the sensibilities of the Qatari people and will present these as a confirmation of their jaundiced perception of the host country. The success of the organisation of the Mundial will mean nothing to them.
The rest of the world cannot, and should not, be measured by Western standards. The stance of Iran and some radical groups in the Middle East, in my opinion, is a reaction to Western imperialism.
Now, something was posted on my family platform on Qatar ’22. I reproduce it here:
“The FIFA scandal documentary on Netflix is a must watch for every Nigerian vis-a-vis African.
There are huge lessons to take home for the black race regarding his penchant to put personal greed ahead of community good and development.
“Qatar basically won the hosting rights for the world cup by buying up a majority of the members in the 22-man committee which voted in the decision to award the 2022 world cup hosting rights to the gulf nation.
“Michel Platini in return for his vote forced the Qataris to enter into an arms deal with France worth billions of dollars, plus buy their aircraft, and a football club in France (Yeah, that’s how they came about PSG).
“The Brazilians traded their vote for a gas deal which saw the setting up of a fully functional mega gas plant in the Amazon nation.
“The Africans among them asked for 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS wired straight to their personal accounts.
Like bro, you came to the table where nation-changing deals were being made and all you cared for was your personal account balance? Not the millions of lives that could be changed forever? You didn’t ask for your country’s share of those far reaching deals of epic national proportions worth in the regions of several hundred millions of dollars. Instead you went for a self serving interest thereby denying your people the luxury of a better life?
“That Netflix documentary summed up the mentality of the African man in its entirety. If you are wondering why it’s the richest yet poorest continent, look no further.”
True, look no further. But look at this scenario: Imagine I was one of those who voted. Then I asked for the Qatari to invest in the triangular rail line from Takoradi to Kumasi, down to Accra through Koforidua and Asuoyaa. That money lands on the desk of our government . Will the project see the light of day?
It is the behaviour of the thieves Africans elect our leaders that breeds mistrust, thus pushing people to seek their own. Platini knows the French Government will be transparent in accounting to the people. How many of our leaders account to their citizens? I believe I would also give my personal bank account to save our leaders the headache of feasting on the money. I also have family and friends, don’t I?
I can bet my last pesewa that only one African nation’s delegate will deliver to their country if there was such a deal. And that is Rwanda. Rwanda has proved that it is a country that should be taken seriously. Let us enjoy Qatar 2022.
Writer’s email address:
akofa45@yahoo.com
By Dr. Akofa K. Segbefia
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
