Features
The military “invasion” of parliament unwarranted
Call that an “attempted coup d’état” and you might not be too far from right. That was because at the time of the “invasion” of the chamber of Parliament by armed military and police personnel at dawn on January 7, 2021, there was no government in place. God forbid! that would have been a serious constitutional crisis for our dear nation.
The “invasion” of Parliament by armed military and police personnel prior to the election of a new Speaker is a matter which needs serious interrogation and must not be allowed to die prematurely.
Even though there was an intense commotion on the floor of Parliament by the two major political parties, (the NPP and the NDC Parliamentary Members-Elect), the “invasion” by the military and police personnel in the Chamber worsened matters and created a lot of confusion in the House.
We are told that the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anim-Yeboah, who was expected to fill the vacuum created as a result of the dissolution of Parliament and government, as the constitution demands and the Clerk of Parliament were escorted out of the Chamber for fear of their dear lives.
Whoever instructed or directed the military to “invade” the Chamber, is yet to be known by the public, but that is of essence to the majority of the people who gave their mandates to the elected members of Parliament to represent them in the House.
The shameful event that unfolded prior to the election of the Honourable Speaker was despicable, outrageous, criminal and must be condemned outright. It, indeed, put a dent on Ghana’s democratic credentials which are acclaimed worldwide. That nasty incident tended to soil our name as one of the most peaceful countries in the sub-region if not the whole of the African continent.
This article will not be complete if it does not spell out the roles and functions of our military vis-à-vis the Ghana Police Service as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
Article 210 of the 1992 Constitution clearly states that “there shall be the armed forces of Ghana which shall consist of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and such otherwise services for which provision is made by Parliament.”
It further states that “no person shall raise an armed force except by or under the authority of an act of Parliament.
Furthermore, the armed forces shall be equipped and maintained to perform the role of defence of Ghana as well as such other function for the development of Ghana as the President may determine.
Therefore, the primary function of the military is to protect and defend the country and its interest with ground troops, armour, artillery, helicopters, tactical nuclear and other weapons.
Since independence, the armed forces’ mission has been to protect the country’s territorial integrity from foreign aggression and to maintain internal security.
In the case of Ghana Police Service, its function is to uphold and enforce the law impartially and to protect life, property, liberty, human rights and dignity of the members of the public.
It is an administrative machinery of government which is charged with the preservation of the public order and tranquility, the promotion of the public health, safety, morals, the prevention, detection and punishment of crimes in the country.
Indeed, if we are to follow the functions of these two basic administrative institutions to the letter, it appears that the military has a distinct function of protecting our territorial integrity unless the government and for that matter the President directs otherwise in case of emergency situations.
The police on the other hand has the power to maintain law and order as well as ensuring absolute discipline among the citizenry. I.e internal security.
For the past few years, the nation has witnessed few instances in which the military, fully armed, had been used by government to usurp the powers of the police in the enforcement of law and order. We have also witnessed few clashes between military and police personnel in situations that could be described as a show of power. This does not auger well for our fledgling democracy.
It is a fact that we are allowing politics to erode the gains the country had chalked so far by creating unnecessary chaos and tension in our dear nation through the use of brute force by our security agencies.
A case in point was the recent elections in the country which recorded cases of armed security personnel allegedly shooting and killing innocent civilians and maiming others for no apparent reasons. May the souls of these departed ones rest in perfect peace.
Another contributing factor is the vigilantism by the two major political parties, NPP and NDC, using their members to attack each other thereby raising tension in the country. These are matters that were regrettable and must be avoided in the future.
We have chosen the path of democracy which entails a lot; we are governed by constitution with stipulated profound articles which must be followed rigidly if we are to ensure smooth administrative processes of our dear nation, Ghana. Flouting our constitution by doing otherwise will not help the course of our democracy which we cherished so much. Let us guard and uphold the tenets of our democracy which has been the envy of other nations.
The new Parliament headed by the new Honourable Speaker, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin and his able lieutenants and other leaders must gird their loins and investigate the circumstances surrounding the recent disturbances in the Chamber of the House, sanction wherever necessary so that we can avoid that negative and nasty incidents that transpired to enable the country to move forward.
By Charles Neequaye
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
