Features
Reflecting on some negative things in our society
The penchant for falsehood peddling in our country especially in our political circles is something that worries me a lot since it would have a negative impact on the youth who are supposed to mirror the behaviour of adults.
It brings into question the motivation for people desiring public office whether, indeed, they are motivated by a genuine desire to serve society.The pronouncement by the NDC that soldiers have been deployed by the President to only the Volta Region with the intention of voter suppression was found out to be false.
It was revealed by the Minister of Defence later in a press conference that soldiers had been deployed along all our borders for various security reasons. The Minister was compelled to provide information that was not meant for public consumption in that it may provide a loop hole for terrorists, secessionists, smugglers etc. to exploit.
If such pronouncements were not made by the NDC, the minister would not have been compelled to make statements that had the potential to affect the security of the nation.
There is also a worry about utterances that have the potential to affect national cohesion. Media reports have alleged pronouncements attributed to operatives of the NDC that claim that the NPP is saying that the people from the Volta Region were Togolese not Ghanaians.
Recently there have been a lot of destructive activities against the state by secessionists from the Volta Region. Clearly their activities may have been influenced by such allegations which by their nature might have given them the impression that their agitations to secede may have the support of the opposition party.
People and organisations must, therefore, be circumspect in their pronouncements in order to maintain the cohesion we enjoy as a nation.
There is this attitude of a lot of Ghanaians who disregard, doing the right thing. We still find people who after drinking water throw away the sachet on the street without any sense of wrong doing.
There are some people who instead of throwing their house hold rubbish into their own Rubbish Bins in their homes, rather throw them into those bins meant for public use close to their homes.
When such public bins get full before the anticipated collection time, some members of the public who do not have the right mentality keep adding on to the overloaded bins causing spill overs that eventually become a nuisance on our streets and environment.
Ultimately the trash would end up in our drains, get them choked and cause flooding when the rains set in, resulting in damage to properties and loss of life. This attitude must change to preserve the environment and help save the country from unintended expenditure to save life and property during floods.
Lack of respect for the elderly is a new threat to the Ghanaian culture. Back in the day, when an elderly person entered a bus and the seats were full, a young person would gladly relinquish his or her seat for the older person.
This attitude is gradually setting eroded and must be of concern to every right thinking member of our society. This lack of respect also finds expression in our political landscape resulting in insults being unleashed on our airwaves against very respectable persons in society.
The fallout from this is people with requisite knowledge and experience capable of turning the fortunes of our dear nation around, refusing to accept roles in public office. The loss to our dear nation cannot be quantified and is a sad situation that must be corrected.
The COVID-19 prevention or safety protocols that have been outlined by the government through the Ministry of Health is a good initiative that must be applauded. However, the compliance to this protocol leaves much to be desired. It is as if a vaccine has been found and, therefore, there is no fear of infection any longer.
There is a popular saying that prevention is better than cure and so even if a cure has been found, it is not a wise move to throw caution to the wind.
The cost of medicine procured by the government could have been put to a different use since the needs of our nation are numerous. The careless abandonment with which people go about their duties is frightening.
The disease which can spread quickly is caused by a virus which is constantly mutating and so the drug or vaccine that is produced today cannot be potent to deal with another mutant of the same virus six months from now. The enforcement of the law governing the protocol must be taken seriously.
The political parties must be impressed upon to ensure the enforcement of the COVID-19 protocols. The pictures on our TV screens, give cause to worry.
People milling about in rallies to get closer to the presidential aspirants and the interactions among supporters must be deeply worrying for any person with a little appreciation of the pandemic.
We cannot afford to let our guard down simply because we see our number of infections declining. A second wave can be generated easily if we do not observe the protocols and would be disastrous for our economy.
If the giants like the US, Germany, France, UK etc. are having economic problems due to this pandemic, can you imagine what can happen to our economy should we experience another wave of infections with the likelihood of a lockdown?
The last issue I would like to draw attention to is the secessionist agenda alleged to have been propagated by one Kosi Kedem, a former Honorable Member of Parliament of our dear nation and a member of the NDC.
People like him and other like minded, must be condemned in no uncertain terms for engaging in actions and utterances that portend danger to the cohesion of our country.
MY bosom friend Kofi Kokotako once told me that a person’s haircut portrays his character. I disagreed with him and said a person’s character portrays his haircut. All in all, we agreed between us that a presidential aspirant whose haircut is excessively punk cannot win even a unit committee election, much more a castle-bound one.
One thing I hated as a kid was getting my hair barbered because I never had the style I wanted. Usually, it was my father who was the tormentor-in-chief, and he chose the kind of design that would suit the shape and nature of my head and that of my elder brother Christian, whose name is more civilised than mine.
When we were through, we looked quite different from the other kids. I didn’t know where my Pop learnt that kind of style but I realised it was very colonial in form and outlook and I became sad when the girls giggled at my design.
Actually, it was something resembling a half-bow with a line cut through at about 38 degrees to the perpendicular. After the ordeal we looked half like the resident catechist and half like a fierce Regimental Sergeant-Major.
When I told my daddy that I had had enough of the ancient cut and wanted an Afro or at least a Tokyo Joe, he quickly explained that Tokyo Joe was for ruffians and that his style was tailor-made for aspiring doctors, lawyers, engineers and great states-men. He didn’t mention journalists though.
So I went and told the giggling girls that my hairdo was a magical one that was going to transform me into a doctor whether they liked it or not. I added that their brothers who had modern haircuts invariably were going to be labourers and tangas (town council). They laughed at me even the more.
They referred me to the conservancy labourer not far away who always wore my kind of cut and asked me why he wasn’t wearing a white gown with a stethoscope hanging from his neck, if that kind of haircut was indeed miracle-performing!
My Dad was quite scrupulous and dished us the haircut in its hardest form just before Palm Sunday. It helped boost our religious conviction and the Holy Spirit almost descended and settled on our wonderful heads.
At Sunday school one Palm Sunday, the lady teacher asked me to stand so that she could admire my hairdo. I was quite flattered and happy that I was the centre of attraction on a great occasion like Palm Sunday. So I quickly stood up and turned round like a model for all to see and envy my design.
It was when the teacher asked me whether my daddy was a policeman that I lost heart. At the mention of policeman, everybody started laughing and I concluded that the teacher wasn’t admiring my head after all. All she wanted to do was to predict my daddy’s occupation using my head as a determinant. I wasn’t pleased with the attempt.
Today whenever it is getting to Palm Sunday 1 remember the incident. And actually I have always enjoyed Palm Sunday because deep within me, I’m a very religious person and I believe that once God will judge us by the purity of our hearts and not the bottles of beer we quaff, I shall also be in heaven together with Korkorti.
Now if you observe properly, you’d realise it is those who are not believers who celebrate Easter to the fullest. They understand the real meaning of Palm Sunday because they equate it to the birthday of palm wine. They actually mourn the death of Christ and rejoice at his resurrection using palm in the form of wine.
Palm Sunday is best marked in the rural areas where palm wine is always available from dawn to dusk and vice versa. Normally, people start Palm Sunday at exactly 4.15 am when the freshly-tapped wine starts arriving. But you have to begin slowly otherwise you’d be in coma before the sun rises.
Easter is due again and this time as usual, the action is right in the countryside. Kwahu is going to shake, Tapa Abotoase will somersault and Peki would explode. All over the world, these three Sikaman towns are ranked as places where Easter is best celebrated with a hangover assured.
People from Britain, Germany and Holland come down either to Obo Kwahu or Avetile Peki to celebrate Easter. They never miss it. It is a yearly ritual. They save towards the occasion.
So during the celebrations, people from all over the country also converge on these places and the celebrants compare haircuts and note carefully those who have grown lean and those who are neither growing lean or growing fat.
In fact, people assess their fellow human beings to ascertain whether they are becoming prosperous or are chewing grass. News is also brought from all over the globe and those from Germany (Jaaamani) are the loudest. The way they talk, you would never know they are cleaning the whiteman’s toilet to make some dough. You’ll think they are Managing Directors of a multinational corporation in Dusseldof. Such is life.
It is during church service on Easter Sunday that the been-tos and the locals alike display whatever they have under their sleeves. The gentlemen are often resplendent in suits and black shining pairs of shoes, and the way they walk can be a clue as to where they are sojourning. With seamen for instance, it can be quite psychedelic. It is a real sight to behold especially if they hail from Kromanti, Moree or Abandze.
With the ladies, the spectacle is breathtaking. It is unbelievable! You can’t comprehend it using the human senses. You have to employ spiritual means. The kaba styles are of different kinds, styles, colour and combination of colours. Some of the styles are complemented with wings and when the lady wearing it is hurrying to “chapel” you’ll think she is actually airborne. She is practically a human vulture.
Then comes the picnic sessions which are normally well-attended by gate crashers, mental patients and political strategists who are also well-versed with what is going on between Kwame Pianim and kukrudu. So they brief their listeners and prophesy the outcome of court cases and election results. In exchange, they are well-fed, well-boozed and all.
But things do not happen only during the day time. At night, the devil usually takes over. Friendships are entered into, old girlfriends are re-baptised and there is love and romance.
By Easter Monday, marriages are broken, new marriages contracted, girlfriends are jilted and pregnancies are on the way awaiting abortion. Every year it happens, and this year it is going to happen again. The death and resurrection of the Lord will really be marked in both righteous and evil ways.
Perhaps, this is not how Judas intended it to be celebrated. Judas was the architect of the Holy Friday coup d’état against the Son of Man.
This article was first published on Saturday March 30, 1996
The Ghanaian community in Finland on Saturday, March 14, 2026, celebrated Ghana’s 69th independence anniversary in an impressive event in Helsinki, the capital city of Finland.
The event was organised by the Ghana Union Finland (GUF), an association of Ghanaian migrants in Finland. It was an occasion well attended by many people from the Ghanaian community in Finland, Finns and other nationalities.
The occasion was graced by the Special Guest, Her Excellency Abigail Naa Adzoko Kwashi, the Ambassador of Ghana to Norway with concurrent accreditation to Finland and Iceland. In her speech, the Ambassador encouraged Ghanaians living in Finland to pursue unity, actively participate in, and support the Ghana Union Finland to build a stronger body better positioned to advocate for its interests and goals.
Also present at the event was the Honorary Consul of Ghana in Finland, Mrs Kati Kivisaari, who has replaced the retired Ms Ulla Alanko. Mrs Kivisaari urged Ghanaians in Finland to remain good ambassadors of Ghana in their lives in Finland.
The event saw the inauguration of new executive members of the Ghana Union Finland. The team was inducted by Elder Samuel Anini, Patron of the Ghana Union Finland.
Earlier, a “royal entry” was performed by leaders of the Asanteman Finland and Mfantseman Kuw and other personalities in their colourful kente attire adorned with ornaments, amidst traditional music and adowa dance to usher in the Ambassador.
Unity and harmony
I see such events, especially the ones marking independence anniversaries, as ample display of unity and harmony in the Ghanaian migrant community as well as in the larger Ghana and Finland relations.
Some personalities present at the event were Nana Ekuoba Gyasi Gyimah and other leaders of Asanteman Finland, Mfantseman Kuw Finland, as well as representatives of other Ghanaian ethnic groups.
It was a very colourful occasion with dance and other performances such as poetry recitals. The audience was also treated to tasty Ghanaian dishes such as jollof rice, fried yam, and soft drinks.
For me personally, whenever I think about Ghana’s Independence Day anniversary every 6th of March, my mind also goes to Finland’s own day on 6th of December. The two dates always give me such a special, positive feeling. As soon as one of the dates ends, I begin a countdown to the other (next) date.
Last year on December 6, 2025, when Finland celebrated its 108th independence anniversary and I participated in two events marking the celebration in Helsinki, I started looking forward to Ghana’s 69th anniversary this year. Now that Ghana’s anniversary is over, I am looking forward to Finland’s 109th anniversary on December 6, 2026. That’s the beauty of it all for me.
Ensuring integration
What I see in all this, especially for Ghanaian migrants in Finland, is the chance for members of the Ghanaian diaspora in Finland to integrate into the Finnish society through such celebrations that are marked by social activities, affiliations and ideas of inclusion.
Inclusion is key to integration, and the two ideas undoubtedly build a sense of belonging. As I previously wrote, Finland sees the role of migrant associations as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision making process and by acting as a representative voice, which is highly appreciated in Finland.
As I keep pointing out, Finland encourages migrants’ participation in the planning of issues concerning the migrants themselves, using such a strategy as one of the efficient ways to improve their inclusion.
Thus, there is an enabling environment created within the Finnish cultural ecology that undoubtedly helps migrants to integrate into the host Finnish society. Thank you!
By Perpetual Crentsil
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