Features
Remembering Sir Willie, a versatile elder in the Ghanaian community in Finland
• Sir Solomon Wilberforce Owusu Essandor
On Saturday, September 3, 2022, the funeral of Sir Solomon Wilberforce Owusu Essandor will take place in Helsinki, Finland.
He died at a hospital in Finland on May 17, 2021, after a short illness and was buried in June the same year. However, largely due to the COVID-19 restrictions at the time, his funeral rites could not follow soon after.
Degrees and expertise
Born in January 1955, Sir Willie, as he was affectionately called after he received a Finnish State Award, came to Finland in 1989 and studied Political Science at the Helsinki University. He had two Master’s degrees (VTM) in International Politics and also in International Law.
As a student, he was appointed to the Helsinki University’s Senate Board for International Affairs where he represented the interests of international students. He had obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the Webster University, Geneva, Switzerland from 1985-1987.
Sir Willie was an expert in immigration, human rights, human resources management, sourcing, refugees and Trade Union issues. Indeed, he was so versatile and had immense knowledge and experience only a few could match.
He had a deep knowledge of the Finnish educational system, which he greatly admired.
Working life and achievements
After his studies, Sir Willie worked as a sorter at Finland’s Post Corporation (then known as Itella Corporation) in Helsinki.
He rose to the position of Human Resources Manager (HR Manager). It was a feat seldom achieved by immigrants in Finland.
Wilberforce was given, among other duties, the task of developing a multicultural policy for the company due to the increasing number of immigrant workers then employed at Itella.
Honoured
He received a prestigious award, the Order of the White Rose of Finland, from the Finnish State during the Independence Day celebration of Finland on December 6, 2005, and thus joined the exclusive family of Finnish Knights (Ritarit).
He was one of eight recipients of the award, not only based on their services in the Post Corporation but also on their versatility in different areas of expertise in the Finnish society.
Sir Wilberforce Essandor was, indeed, a champion of multiculturalism both in Finland and across Europe by speaking and teaching at different conferences to promote equality and diversity at the workplace and elsewhere.
Very active in the Ghanaian community
Sir Willie was a founding member of the Ghana Union Finland (GUF), established as a non-governmental organisation in Finland in 1992. He was the President of the organisation from 1992-1994 when it was known as the National Union of Ghanaian Residents in Finland (NUGRIF).
He was a big pillar who played a pivotal role in the many seminars, symposia and other educational events as well as social activities organised by the Union. His wide knowledge and experience has been of immense benefit to the Union and other associations.
Until his demise, Sir Willie was one of the Union’s two Patrons. He was a member of the Union’s Electoral Commission.
In addition, he was a founding member of the Mfantseman Kuw of Finland, which, among other things, stood to bring unity and promote integration in the Finnish society.
A father-figure, a gem
Sir Willie was a father not only to his five biological children—Nana Yaa, Maa Adwoa, Olivia, Emil/Joojo, and Evelyn—but also to many others, as well as being a grandfather to many more and not just the nine grandchildren in his family.
He was one of the few ‘Elders who performed the Ghanaian/traditional naming of a newborn baby. A father, uncle, brother, and a great friend he was to many Ghanaian and African migrants in Finland as well as Finnish friends who equally acknowledged him as someone they could easily relate with.
Sir Willie was a gem, a very peaceful, humble, friendly and affable man who gave immense support to many people. He readily shared his knowledge and experience with others, and was simply a beloved elder “statesman” in the entire Ghanaian migrant community, something that is, indeed, worthy of emulation.
At Christmas celebrations by Ghanaians here, Sir Willie played the Santa Claus, which is very important since it originates from Finland.
A chip of the old block
Sir Willie was active in politics in Finland. On a few occasions, he stood for the Municipal elections although he did not win. It was, therefore, a big consolation and a clear indication of a chip of the old block when his second daughter (Mrs Adwoa Brewu) was voted a Deputy Councillor in the Finnish Municipal elections a few weeks after his demise.
Sir Willie has left a legacy and an impact we will strive to emulate and protect as immigrants in Finland. May he continue to rest peacefully in the Lord till we meet again! Amen!
By Perpetual Crentsil
The writer is a Ghanaian
lecturer at the University of
Helsinki, Finland
One of the issues we have been grappling with as a nation is corruption, and it has had such a devastating effect on our national development. I have been convinced that until morality becomes the foundation upon which our governance system is built, we can never go forward as a nation.
Our traditional practices, which have shaped our cultural beliefs, have always espoused values that have kept us along the straight and the narrow and have preserved our societies since ancient times.
These are values that frown on negative habits like stealing, cheating, greediness, selfishness, etc. Our grandparents have told us stories of societies where stealing was regarded as so shameful that offenders, when caught, have on a number of instances committed suicide.
In fact, my mother told me of a story where a man who was living in the same village as her mother (my grandmother), after having been caught stealing a neighbour’s cockerel, out of shame committed suicide on a mango tree. Those were the days that shameful acts were an abomination.
Tegare worship, a traditional spiritual worship during which the spirit possesses the Tegare Priest and begins to reveal secrets, was one of the means by which the society upheld African values in the days of my grandmother and the early childhood days of my mother.
Those were the days when the fear of being killed by Tegare prevented people from engaging in anti-social vices. These days, people sleeping with other people’s wives are not uncommon.
These wrongful behaviour was not countenanced at all by Tegare. One was likely going to lose his life on days that Tegare operates, and so unhealthy habits like coveting your neighbour’s wife was a taboo.
Stealing of other people’s farm produce, for instance, could mean certain death or incapacitation of the whole or part of the body in the full glare of everybody. People realised that there were consequences for wrongdoing, and this went a long way to motivate the society to adhere to right values.
Imagine a President being sworn into office and whoever administers the oath says, “Please say this after me: I, Mr. …., do solemnly swear by God, the spirits of my ancestors and the spirits ruling in Ghana, that should I engage in corrupt acts, may I and my family become crippled, may madness become entrenched in my family, may incurable sicknesses and diseases be my portion and that of my family, both immediate and extended.”
Can you imagine a situation where a few weeks afterwards the President goes to engage in corrupt acts and we hear of his sudden demise or incapacitation and confessing that he engaged in corrupt acts before passing or before the incapacitation—and the effect it will have on his successor? I believe we have to critically examine this option to curb corruption.
My grandmother gave me an eyewitness account of one such encounter where a woman died instantly after the Tegare Priest had revealed a wrong attitude she had displayed during the performance on one of the days scheduled for Tegare spirit manifestation.
According to her story, the Priest, after he had been possessed by the spirit, declared that for what the woman had done, he would not forgive her and that he would kill. Instantly, according to my grandmother, the lady fell down suddenly and she died—just like what happened to Ananias and his wife Sapphira in Acts Chapter 5.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Emotional distortions can indeed have a profound impact on an individual’s mental health and well-being. These distortions can lead to a range of negative consequences, including anxiety, depression, and impaired relationships.
Emotional surgery is a therapeutic approach that aims to address and heal emotional wounds, traumas, and blockages. This approach recognises that emotional pain can have a profound impact on an individual’s quality of life and seeks to provide a comprehensive and compassionate approach to healing.
How emotional surgery can help
Emotional surgery can help individuals:
Identify and challenge negative thought patterns: By becoming aware of emotional distortions, individuals can learn to challenge and reframe negative thoughts.
Develop greater emotional resilience: Emotional surgery can help individuals develop the skills and strategies needed to manage their emotions and respond to challenging situations.
Improve relationships: By addressing emotional wounds and promoting emotional well-being, individuals can develop more positive and healthy relationships with others.
The benefits of emotional surgery
The benefits of emotional surgery can include:
Improved mental health outcomes: Emotional surgery can help individuals reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Enhanced relationships: Emotional surgery can help individuals develop more positive and healthy relationships with others.
Increased self-awareness: Emotional surgery can help individuals develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their emotions.
A path towards healing
Emotional surgery offers a promising approach to addressing emotional distortions and promoting emotional well-being. By acknowledging the impact of emotional pain and seeking to provide a comprehensive and compassionate approach to healing, individuals can take the first step towards recovery and improved mental health.
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
BY ROBERT EKOW GRIMMOND-THOMPSON
