Features
The beauty of rural Easter
SOMETIMES, it is good tonic going to the village to celebrate an occasion like Easter. But it all really depends on whether you know your hometown or not. You can’t go where you don’t know unless you are led like a blind man.
The problem is that many have been born outside their ancestral homes and have since then not had the courage or the money to travel and see the birth place of their forefathers.
For those who know their home-town, going back to celebrate the Easter is normally easy especially when they are not suffering from a financial disease.
However, my former classmate Kwame Korkorti has just reiterated that he would never go to his hometown again because he is the target of witches.
Yes, it is twelve good years now since the guy touched his roots. The last time he was there, he was nearly converted into a billy goat to be slaughtered for groundnut soup. He had about 13 nightmares in a single night and courtesy calls from witches of all kinds, profile and red-eye.
Apparently, they had come at mid-night to welcome back the great Korkorti Asamoah from the capital city. But the welcome ceremony was rather unorthodox. Instead of sitting down and exchanging greetings and telling of their mission, they rather held Korkorti’s limbs and started dragging him to where he didn’t know.
If the great Korkorti had not turned to Christ and shouted “Jesus!” for seven consecutive times, he would have ended up in the soup-pot, clean! But God was on his side and Jesus heard his cry. Korkorti has never been a religious person, but when it comes to matters of life and death, he knows where power lies.
Witch or no witch, going back to your hometown on an occasion is always a refreshing idea. Rural life is particularly exciting when palm wine is in season. The price is not like that of beer.
Moreover, palm wine is a health-drink. The dregs are laden with what any ‘unbeliever’ would term impurities. But believe me, the chemistry concerning the benefits of these ‘impurities’ is not far-fetched. The dregs have yeast in unusually large quantities.
Legend also has it that the impurities have been the magic that has kept wives from divorcing their husbands, even when the husbands are poor to the point of hopelessness.
At least, when these husbands drink the dregs of palm wine, they fulfil their marital obligations in style, keeping the marital bed hot and throbbing. The secret of a happy home indeed lies in the dregs of palm wine. Unfortunately, people do not know.
Yeah, Easter in the village is not a bad idea at all. Right from Palm Sunday, the action starts because most people equate Palm Sunday with palm nut soup.
There are certain rare herbs that are introduced in palmnut soup to make it delicious albeit rural. You won’t find such herbs in Accra. Bush meat also makes a difference.
Then comes GOOD FRIDAY when Jesus was betrayed by one of his right-hand men JUDAS ISCARIOT. He is the man who deserves the most honour, being the person who gave out Jesus to be crucified, so that mankind can be saved.
Those who hate Judas should repent today and start loving him. Without him, there would have been no hope for you and me.
In the villages, people consciously or unconsciously acknowledge the role played by Judas the bad boy. They express this in the course of what can be termed an alcoholic festival during which mixtures are permitted.
You can combine akpet with palmwine, add a little beer and finally top it with gin and akpet again. If the next dawn you find yourself sprawled in a dirty gutter, don’t be surprised. It all goes to confirm the fact that Judas’ role was indeed a hard one.
Holy Saturday is normally a day that begins with a hangover. And the ‘ghost’ must be cleared otherwise you’ll still be seeing things in twos and threes although you’re not suffering from kooko. Two tots of gin clears the eye and also opens the stomach for food.
Easter Sunday or is it Holy Sunday? Is more religious in outlook. People dress in their best clothes and their style of walking to church is always varied depending on where they come from to spend the Easter. In fact, it all depends on whether they come from Accra, Kumasi, Obo Kwahu, Tapa Abotoase or Teteman.
Those from Accra normally want to show a bit of class and therefore dance to church rather than walk. And before they sit on the pew, they spin round to see if people are admiring them. In fact, they are stylish.
You can also observe that those from Kumasi are often flamboyantly dressed. And when they walk to church, you’d think they are about to fly. Even the proverbial vulture in all his pomp and majesty, fully bedecked in royal kente will not be that airborne. Kumasi is not a cheap city, you know!
Other celebrants are of course also finely dressed and some walk to the church as if they are hurrying to catch grasscutter. The sermon is normally lively primarily because people from Accra are around.
The pastor becomes charged with the spirit and he delivers the word while employing heavenly gestures to stress biblical points.
As for the catechist, this is his day of glory. He is extra holy and he is the centre of attraction. The entire church revolves around him. It is he who can ask the Holy Spirit not to descend.
After the church service, everything becomes easy-going again with ‘palms’ featuring prominently and pestles crashing against motars to signify that fufu is being manufactured.
Monday is picnic-time. It is usually a sort of bring-your bottle and ‘supply your own food’ palaver. But it is always prudent to make allowance for gate-crashers. They bring nothing but go home the most bellyful.
Well, it is all a matter of loving your neighbour as yourself.
Even if you’re given a slap on the left cheek, you must reckon that is not enough; and you musn’t slap back. Instead, you have to turn your right cheek too and invite the slappist or the slapper to do the job on this one too. That is the only way you can go to heaven. So those who are always thinking about revenge should take note.
Monday! Everybody who comes from ‘away’ goes back to base. The next day, the cart pullers would start work, the civil servants would continue with their demand for more pay, traders would start quarrelling and selling and life grinds on and on.
The Easter is over and this shows clearly in the slimness of the back-pocket. But wasn’t it worth it? It was! You’ve at least gone to the village and taken the dregs of palm wine to make your wife happy. But remember there is something called Family Planning.
This article was first published on Saturday April 22, 1995
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
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