Features
The economy: Any Hope?
Many Ghanaians appear to have lost hope in the country following the rapid rise in prices affecting all kinds of products.
The economic situation is affecting everyone and knows no political colour. People following the NDC have been affected just as much as those who support the NPP, CPP and other political parties. What this means is that all people in the country have been badly hit by the unpleasant economic situation.
In fact, businesses are not doing well. Apart from that, all economic activities have also been affected, making life uncomfortable for all people in the 16 regions of Ghana.
In spite of all this, people are working hard and doing what is expected of them to overcome the challenges they face. This is quite encouraging because it is the only way to survive the current economic doldrums.
What has happened to the country sends a big challenge to all Ghanaians to be calm and work together towards finding a lasting solution to the problem. No one will ever come to Ghana to solve the economic problems Ghanaians are facing today.
We may seek collaboration with other entities in the world, but much will depend on Ghanaians themselves, who may have to work hard and be committed to national progress and development. Thus, there is hope for the country, but we will have to put our heads together to overcome our challenges and move forward.
Every community and district will have to organise themselves in a positive way so that better lives can be attained by such communities. If these communities do well as envisaged, it will help push up economic development for the districts and regions in which they find themselves.
Again, as each district and region progresses in this way, they will all converge at a point where all 16 regions of the country will be seen to be moving forward.
This means that the entire country will be moving forward in a positive direction. This is what is needed for our future progress.
When we work in this way, the entire country will develop economically. In other words, all locations in the north, the middle, and the southern belt will all contribute to the economic success of the nation.
In spite of the current economic conditions, there is hope at the end of the tunnel. Everyone is expected to play a role in this so that the economic situation can be overcome. When this happens, the sky will be the limit as far as economic development is concerned.
Ghana, as a country, has an abundance of resources. Some of these resources are gold, klinker, salt, and many others. What it needs to do is make full and effective use of all these resources.
In utilising natural resources, we need to ensure that technology is also applied to help the country maximise the benefits obtained from them. This can be possible if we remain committed to it.
Gone are the days when our natural resources were exported in their raw form. Today, the trend ought to be reversed, so we need to add value to them so as to be able to maximise the benefits we derive for the country.
This will have to be done in addition to the implementation of the current ongoing programmes. If this is done, much progress can be made.
Examples here are Planting for Food and Jobs, One District, One Factory, and other programmes that have been rolled out by the government. These are all good programmes that must be kept and implemented well.
Thus, if the current programmes being rolled out by the government are good, then we need to continue with them. Again, if the nation’s existing natural resources are fully exploited and effectively used, the benefits to the nation will be maximised, and the country’s revenue will be enormous. When revenue is huge in this way, it means that most of our needs or demands can be met. In such a situation, life will be better and more elegant as far as the economic development is concerned.
Therefore, the people of this country must have hope and know that the current problems are surmountable. If they are overcome, then there is hope for the future.
Once again, the question is whether we can overcome the current economic difficulties. Yes, we can, so no one should lose hope because Ghana will soon be on the verge of recovery.
Email address/whatsApp number of author:
Pradmat201@gmail.com (0553318911)
BY DR. KOFI AMPONSAH-BEDIAKO
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
