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
THE typical itinerant salesman in Sikaman is a herbalist. He is normally a slim macho with the capacity to perambulate the expanse of area covering the triangle of Accra-Tema-Ashiaman. In short, he can walk a total of 60 miles a day, marketing a product that cures every disease, including poverty. 
The door-to-door herbal pharmacist advertises his product by word of mouth. He has nothing to do with the Food and Drugs Board (FDB). After all, his concoctions do not feature on FM stations.
Those herbalists who cannot walk to propagate the herbal gospel, liaise with drivers of mass transportation and their mates. They are, therefore, given the chance to sell their products on Benz buses that ply the routes.
Normally, the herbalist starts his sales message with a prayer and Bible study. He asks the passengers to bow down their heads in supplication to God the father, the son, the Holy Spirit.
When a herbalist asks the passengers to close their eyes and bow their heads, Moslems on board naturally feel offended. They feel that the herbalist has no right to assume that every passenger is a Christian. They think such an assumption is an affront to Islam.
So a Moslem on board will raise the hand for a point of order. He’ll remind the herbalist that it would be in his own interest to mind his language.
“Be careful the way you address people in a public place. Not every person here is a Christian,” he’d state assertively.
Of course, the herbalist will promptly ignore him, but would all the same “watch” his tongue. Who knows whether or not the Moslem brother is inspired by Quoranic zeal to defend the tenets of Islam to the hilt?
When he starts saying, “Wallahi!” and “Inshallah!” it could be the beginning of proclaiming Islam as supreme, a point which must be driven home with talibanic precision.
So the herbalist must tread carefully lest he steps on fire.
The herbalist could even add a measure of mirth to it all, by announcing that Christians on board today have very interesting company on the journey, but that should not detract from the business of the day.
The Moslem brother will weigh the words carefully and offer a wry smile.
He must be careful the occasion does not degenerate into the use of semantics and proverbial oration to deride his conviction that public utterances must be mindful of religious sensibilities. He has made his point very clear and expects that it is taken in good faith in the interest of a peaceful journey.
The herbalist will now open the New Testament and preach salvation, stating clearly that salvation can come only through Jesus Christ and NOBODY else.
The Moslem brother will now start twitching his moustache. The visible and almost revolutionary reflexes of his upper lip can be an indication that sentiments have begun superseding reason, and the outcome could well be tragic now shift uneasily in his seat.
The time has come for him to also express his right to the religion of his fore-bears. He’ll put his hand into his pocket and rise to his feet. The time has indeed come!
This article was first published on Saturday, September 9, 2006
When the cause of a particular problem like sickness, disease, sudden illness, a social issue etc. are not known, it stands to reason that resolving it becomes a huge challenge.
Citizens would understand the government when public announcements are made to the effect that government is trying to find a solution to the issue, even though it is taking a while for it to be resolved because citizens are rational beings.
On the other hand, if the solution to a particular issue is known to everybody but the government for whatever reason, is dragging its feet in resolving it, citizens become frustrated and begin to lose trust in their leaders.
One such issue is the heavy traffic along a section of the Kasoa – Odokor road. A short stretch of bad road between the traffic light at the Weija Government Hospital and the entrance to the entrance of the overhead that leads to the N1, is the cause of the problem but nothing is being done about it, day after day, week after week, month after month. Thus is clearly unacceptable.
Another issue that requires urgent attention is the lack of pavements along a lot of streets in parts of the various Municipal Assemblies. Exercise is a prerequisite for long life and healthy living and for those of us who it has become a way of life, this issue of people putting up structures right to the edge of the drains beside the roads, are making life difficult for us.
We are compelled to walk along the roads, putting our lives at serious risk. Pedestrians should never be compelled to compete with vehicles on our streets and roads. Roads and streets are made for vehicles and pavements are made for pedestrians. That is the norm. Any attempt to normalise a situation where pedestrians are mingling with vehicles is insanity.
It is the road regulations that makes it so and therefore district or municipal assemblies are to take responsibility and ensure that spaces for pavements are not encroached upon. Citizens have rights that must be protected by their leaders and making pavements available to pedestrians, is one of them.
When we hear of teachers having sex with students, it appears it is something recent. It is not a new phenomenon. It has been there since Adam. Perhaps this issue is getting much attention due to the proliferation of social media. It was an open secret in times past when Teachers were in relationships with female students and some married them immediately after completion of school.
Some teachers were also known to be having unholy interactions with female pupils but due to the times that these acts occurred, human rights issues and the awareness around it, allowed such unscrupulous teachers to get away with their crimes.
Now we are in a different era and so a Headmaster is now in hot waters. He is alleged to have raped about 19 female students and as usual, some officials tried to cover it up and are also in hot waters and their actions or inactions in the matter are under investigation.
Why the man has been allowed to roam freely without being arrested is simply mind boggling. It appears that the law applies differently, depending on who you are. This issue came to public attention sometime in August this year, yet the police had not arrested or invited this man for question regarding the rape allegation.
It has come out that he is a Constituency Secretary of the ruling party and the question in the public domain is that, is it because he is a political figure that is why he is still walking around without questioning? I believe in the rule of law so let us hold our breadth and let the proper thing be done.
The police must however be seen to be active in this matter. God bless.
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