Features
The Big Catch – Part 2
A big catch
As soon as the taxi took off, Tamara started explaining how things went.
‘You see, Yooku, quite a number of people at the fishing harbour have noticed what has been going on with your crew, but they said that Sabina hardly spoke with them, apart from the odd greeting, so they kept their silence.
As for me, I started making friends the very day I started work, so I have been getting a lot of information. They stop at a spot some distance away from the landing bay, and sell the bulk of their fish to a couple of ladies, and come back to the landing bay to sell the little left.
My assistant has been observing them, so he knows the exact location. We should be there in good time to catch them right in the act’.
‘I am so grateful, Tamara. To think that these eight people have been stealing for so long’. ‘Their time is up now. From today they will be looking for another victim’.
As they got down from the taxi, Paa Kwesi, the assistant, came over to them. ‘We are in good time. The two ladies just got here, and are walking to meet them. They should land anytime from now. Let’s go by the side route. We will pounce on them without being seen’.
The boat landed, and the crew got down and pulled it close to shore, then some porters went with head pans and carried the big fish to shore. Egya Amo, the captain, negotiated the price with the ladies, and as one of them was handing over the money to him, Tamara called from close by.
‘Egya Amo! Ayekoo! Is this where you sell our fish, you thief? The owner of the boat, who toiled and put it to sea, has determined a place for you to land, but you and your fellow thieves have chosen your own place, eh? Madam, give me the money, and take the fish away. Now, Egya Amo, leave here with your men before I call the police’.
‘Madam, can we go and collect our things?’ ‘No. Leave or I call the police. You have stolen from us for so long. Your things in the boat have no value compared to what you have stolen. Go and find another victim’. As they walked away, one of the ladies moved over to Tamara.
‘Madam, as for me, I buy fish from anyone offering it for sale. I did not know that the fish did not belong to them. I am ready to buy from you when you get a new crew’.
‘No problem. You can take my number and call me in a week. I would have got a new set of people. As long as you offer me fair prices, I am ready to do business with you’.
‘Wow, Tamara’, Yooku said as they sat in the taxi, ‘I don’t know how to thank you. I had virtually given up any hope of making any money from this business’.
‘You made a massive investment in it, and it is most unfair that you were treated this way. After recruiting your set of workers, you should also monitor them to know what they are doing. It seems that many people knew what was going on in your boat, except you. That must change. We must stay on top of the game. So in the next few days, let’s find another crew, and get them to start work. This is a good season, so we must take full advantage’.
After the new crew was recruited, Tamara went over to Yooku’s place every Sunday after church to report on the week’s business. Yooku bought her a car to make her work easier, and also as reward for her loyalty.
One morning, Pa John called to inform Yooku that Sabina and Tamara, whose applications Yooku had submitted to the bank, had been invited for interview. Sabina was thrilled to hear the news, and after thanking Yooku profusely, she called Tamara to discuss how to prepare. To her surprise, Tamara did not express much interest in the job, even though she said she would attend the interview. Sabina was even more surprised when she did not show up on the day, so she went over to her place.
‘Tamara, what’s happening? Why did you not show up at the interview? Are you telling me that you are not interested in the bank job?’ ‘Before I answer you, Sabina, tell me how it went’. ‘I think Yooku’s friend Pa John had already pulled a few strings, because they asked me to start next week.
They are opening a new department to handle remittances by Ghanaians abroad who are making various investments. We start the orientation next Monday, and we start work the following week. But I’m very curious, Tamara, why are you not taking up such a juicy offer? Apart from the attractive pay, there are good career prospects. So tell me your reason’. ‘Actually, the simple reason is that Yooku is offering me a good package for managing his business’.
‘Did I hear you right, Tamara? Is something wrong with you? Have you forgotten that I was doing that very job, and I quit because it was not going anywhere? And you agreed to take it on whilst waiting for something to happen. Now a big opportunity has opened up, and you are telling me you will stick to that useless job? What do your parents say about this? You really shock me, Tamara. We have been friends for many years, so it is my duty to help you avoid such madness’.
‘Sabina, I know you mean well, but I’m sure you also know that I’m not one to engage in anything without clearly thinking about it. Yes, I have discussed it with my parents, and they are solidly behind me’.
‘I’m going home. If I stay longer I will say something really bad. See you later’. Tamara walked her outside, and as she walked towards the gate, Sabina noticed the car. ‘By the way, has your dad got a new car? I like the colour. And it’s a Toyota. Wow’. ‘Actually, its mine. Yooku bought it for me, in appreciation of my efforts’.
‘I don’t believe it. Listen Tamara, I believe Yooku has conned you with some sweet words and actions. I left the guy because both my parents felt he was a loser, without any direction. Remember? And you are telling me he has bought you a car? I hope the scales fall from your eyes very soon’. With that she stormed out of the gate.
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
