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.
Today, I focus on the Apostolic Church International in Finland, as I continue with my description of institutions and personalities and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland.
The Apostolic Church International, Finland (or, Apostolic International Association Ry) was established in October 9, 2023. The Church in Finland has seen significant strides and accomplishments within the short time that it has been established in Finland, which must be highlighted.
History of the Church in Ghana
The Apostolic Church Ghana originated from the 1904–1905 Welsh revival, officially established in Ghana (then called Gold Coast) in 1935 following connections between a local prayer group in Asamankese (a town in southern Ghana), led by Peter Newman Anim, and the Apostolic Church, UK. There were historical splits in 1939 and 1953, but the Apostolic Church attained autonomy in 1985.
Today, the Church is headquartered in Accra. Last year (2025), it dedicated its new 10-storey headquarters, “The Apostolic Church Tower,” in Frafraha, Adenta West in Accra.
Activities of the Apostolic Church in Finland
The Apostolic Church in Finland conducts church service on Sundays. The service starts at 11a.m. in the morning and closes by 1 p.m. in the afternoon. There are no other activities during other days for now.
The Minister in charge of the church in Finland is also the Area Head of Italy Area. He is Pastor Daniel Kofi Addison who is the new Italy Area Head, and has just been transferred from UK South Area to Italy Area during the just-ended Council Meeting in March this year. Italy Area comprises Italy, which has 13 Assemblies, Germany, one Assembly, and Finland, one Assembly.
Elder Ebenezer Amoaning-Coffie is the Presiding Elder in charge of the Assembly in Finland. A Presiding Elder is responsible for day to day activities of the church (Assembly) and reports to the District Pastor, or in the absence of the District Pastor, reports to the Area Head.
Achievements
The Apostolic Church International, Finland was officially registered under the Finnish Law, guaranteeing freedom of worship and providing legal foundation for future growth. The church service is conducted in both English and Twi.
The church opens its doors to all people of every nation, especially Ghanaians who are in Finland and other African nationals. Now, the membership comprises Ghanaians, Nigerians and Sierra Leoneans.
The Church and the Ghanaian migrant community in Finland
The Apostolic Church in Finland plays a prominent role as a religious group that serves Ghanaian migrants and others in the Finnish society.
Thus, the Apostolic 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.
Elder Amoaning-Coffie said that the main and primary aim of the church is to bring people closer to God. “We aim to win souls for Christ. We aim to preach the gospel to the world. By propagating the gospel to the people, we are hopeful that they will turn away from any ungodly ways and be good individuals in the community and in society in general”, he stated.
He said that everything is going well so far. A key challenge, however, is how to get more members especially the youth. As a new Assembly, we are in need of instrumentalists, for example. We pray to God Almighty to help us do His work, the Elder disclosed.
Integration
By its activities, the Apostolic 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 in Finland.
As I mentioned some time ago, the role of migrant associations and groups such as the Apostolic 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!
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
The landscape of the Ghanaian palate is shifting, and not necessarily for the better. In our bustling urban centres, from the streets of Accra to the suburbs of Kumasi, a quiet culinary revolution is taking place; one where the mortar and pestle are being replaced by the pizza oven and the deep fryer. This transition from traditional staple foods like fufu, banku, akple, kenkey, tuo zaafi, and ampesi toward “continental” dishes is more than just a change in appetite; it is a reflection of a deeper social struggle with identity and prestige.
The illusion of modernity
For many, “stepping out” for a meal has become synonymous with consuming foreign cuisine. There is an unspoken social hierarchy where a bowl of Abunuabunu is relegated to the village category, while burgers, pizzas are branded as prestigious choices. We have reached a stage where we equate foreign with modern and local with primitive.
This perception is a dangerous illusion. Our traditional dishes are marvels of culinary engineering complex, nutrient-dense, and deeply rooted in our history. When we choose a processed foreign import over a meal made from local tubers or fermented maize, we are not just changing our lunch; we are eroding the indigenous knowledge attached to our local ingredients and foods.
We need to turn the consumption of indigenous grains and tubers like millet, sorghum, and plantain into a statement of self-worth and national pride.
The cultural and health erosion
Every time a local dish disappears from a restaurant menu to make room for foreign fast food, we lose a piece of our cultural fabric. Traditional Ghanaian cooking is an art that requires patience and skill. By choosing the convenience of foreign fast food, we are raising a generation that may know the taste of a pepperoni pizza but cannot identify the rich, earthy profile of Prekese or the subtle tang of well-fermented dough dishes like corn porridge, banku, etew, abolo, agidi or kamfa, and kenkey.
Furthermore, we are at the crossroads of a nutrition transition. Replacing high-fiber, indigenous crops with calorie-dense but nutrient-poor foreign fast foods is driving a rise in lifestyle diseases such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and liver disease. We are trading our longevity for 15-minutes convenience or unhealthy diet.
A call for culinary patriotism
It is time for us to appreciate, preserve, and promote our indigenous foods and culinary traditions. We need to be proud of our local dishes, ingredients and cooking methods, rather than relying heavily on foreign or imported foods. We must stop viewing our local delicacies as low-class and start treating our culinary heritage as the high-end gastronomy it truly is.
True sophistication does not come from imitating Western fast food; it comes from innovation and adding values to our own resources. We see glimpses of this potential in the rise of branded Sobolo and the creative use of gluten-free plantain flour in modern baking of flour-based dishes such as bread, cakes, biscuits and others. This is the path forward. We must elevate our local dishes, making them as accessible, affordable, presentable and trendy as any foreign alternative.
To the hospitality industry: Innovate or stagnate
Our hotels and high-end restaurants must lead the charge. They must stop relegating local dishes to the “traditional corner” of the buffet, and apply the same culinary finesse given to imported dishes to our Fante Fante, apapransa, aborbi tadi, fetritoto, akple, abolo, yakayeke, fufu, ampesi, kokonte, wasawasa, tubani, apapransa, mpotompoto, kelewele, aliha, brukutu, pito, and other local dishes. The industry must enhance customer experiences making eating local dishes the ultimate luxury experience for both tourists and residents alike. We must elevate the presentation of our foods by using modern plating techniques to show that a bowl of light soup can be as visually stunning as a French consommé. We need to reclaim our Ghanaian plate before it is too late.
To the policy makers: Let us encourage buying of local ingredients to promote the local food industry and economy. There should be educational programmes and talks about the nutritional and cultural benefits of local foods so that people understand their value.
We need to encourage serving traditional dishes at school programmes, parties, and celebrations instead of only fast foods,
To the Youth: Let us value and appreciate our traditional dishes instead of always choosing foreign foods. There must be balance in our choice of local and foreign dishes. Confidence in our culture encourages others to respect it too. Our local dishes can also be promoted by sharing pictures, recipes, and videos on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp to make them attractive and trendy.
Young citizens must learn from their parents and elders how to prepare local meals to keep the knowledge and cultural relevance alive. Local dishes can be modernised to appeal to younger generations and tourists.
Conclusion
We cannot afford to trade our heritage for foreign cuisines which are gaining grounds across the country at an alarming rate. We must disabuse our minds of the perception that anything foreign or imported is better than those locally made. Our health, economy, and identity are tied to the soil. It is time to stop apologising for our local flavours and start celebrating them. It is possible to embrace modernity without losing ourselves and our cultural identity. Let us make the Ghanaian kitchen the heart of our modern identity once again.
By: Marilyn Gadogbe
