Features
The outcome of the NPP National Executives Election and the daunting or difficult task ahead of the party
As a normal routine, every Tuesday of the week which is a market day at the Korle-Gonno Tuesday Market in Accra in my vicinity, I never missed going there myself as a bachelor to buy my assorted fruits such as oranges, water melon, pineapples, sugarcane, apples, mangoes among others which I normally relied upon to keep my body fresh, lively and active. Trust me, ever since I started consuming these fruits, I hardly complained of sickness, even though I regularly visited my health providers for routine check-ups.
SHORTAGE OF FOOD ITEMS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO GHANAIANS
The last time I went to this market to buy my fruits, I had the shock of my life, as this market which was normally booming with fruits, foodstuffs and other assorted wares, was completely short of these items with some market women around, complaining bitterly about how things were negatively going on in this country and how their families were affected in their daily living conditions.
Being a senior and experienced journalist who was curious to know more, I spoke to a few of them around to know what had necessitated the shortage of these items on the market this time round. As if they were trained economists, they told me bluntly that the general bad economic conditions that had affected petroleum products, had prevented most of the people who transported these foodstuffs and other food items from the hinterland to the marketing centres for sale to consumers. It will interest my readers to know that I spent thrice more than what I normally used, to purchase these fruits which were dear to me in my routine daily meal. I can tell you that the situation I met at the Korle-Gonno Tuesday Market, will definitely cut across the various markets in most cities of the country.
RELATING THE EMPTY MARKET TO THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY
Such is the terrible economic challenges in which Ghanaians find themselves at the moment with the terrible high cost of living, shortage of goods, services and food items, constant depreciation of the cedi against the dollar, high inflation, excessive borrowing and spending, debt ratio escalating, opulence and extravagant way of living by government appointees among others. No doubt we are in difficult times in the history of our country and we have to run to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to seek a bailout. But all is not lost yet, with the Almighty God on our side, we have to fight and extricate ourselves from these economic challenges and together, help build our dear nation into a formidable force for generation unborn.
I have decided to deviate a bit from the topic I have chosen to write on just to let my readers understand the arduous task ahead of the new national executives elected by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) who are expected to be in office for the next four years to help the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo/Alhaji Mahammadu Bawumia administration to move the country out of the present economic challenges in order to position the party to fight for the next election to fulfil the party’s much touted agenda, “Breaking the Eight”.
The NPP on Saturday, July 16, 2022. came out from a successful National Delegates Conference at the Accra Sports Stadium which saw the party electing a new crop of officers to steer it affairs for the next four years. God being so good, there was no nasty incident to mar the beauty of the conference which was attended by delegates drawn from all over the 16 regions of the country. It was a nice display of party paraphernalia with President Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Alhaji Bawumia in attendance.
NEW NATIONAL EXECUTIVES OF NPP
By midnight, the over 6,000 delegates had cast their ballots to elect new executives they think can help propel the party to greater heights. Those elected are, Mr Stephen Ntim, National Chairman, Mr Danquah Smith Buttey, First Vice Chairman, Madam Rita Asobayire, Second Vice Chairperson, Alhaji Masawudu Osman, Third Vice Chairman, Lawyer Justin Frimpong Koduah, General Secretary, Lawyer Henry Nana Boakye (Nana B), National Organizer, Ms Kate Gyamfua, Women Organiser, Abdul Aziz Haruna Futah, Nasara Coordinator, Mr Salam Mohammed Mustafa, Youth Organizer and Dr. Charles Dwamena, Treasurer.
It was a tough contest, especially, in the case of the national chairman and the general secretary positions. Mr. Stephen Ntim, after five attempts within 20 years has finally won the chairmanship, having defeated strong contenders such as Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Mr Kwabena Abankwa-Yeboah among others. The former General Secretary, Mr John Buadu, who was tipped to retain his position, lost painfully to Lawyer Justin Frimpong Koduah.
AMENDING THE CRACKS AND DIVISIONS WITHIN THE PARTY
Now that the elections are over and the executives have been sworn-in, it is the wish and desire of many Ghanaians and, indeed, the ardent supporters of the NPP that the cracks and divisions that have been created as a result of the elections which did not favour supporters of some of the contestants, will be amended to unite the rank and file of members to prosecute the agenda the party has set for itself. It is so painful to lose your candidate considering the amount of campaign you have put in for that person. However, in every election, there is bound to be a winner and a loser and that has been the beauty of the game. No one can cry over spilt milk and in every human institution, there are some of these infractions that is why the losers must quickly put the past behind them and team up with the winners for the progress of the party.
It is a fact that the new executives have a difficult task of healing the wounds created as a result of this election by uniting the rank and file of the party members and supporters alike. They have to support the government to put in place sound and pragmatic economic policies within the shortest possible time to restore the loss of confidence most Ghanaians have developed for the Akufo-Addo- led administration as the country prepare for the 2024 general election. The government is also expected to open its doors to the new executives for dialogue and consultation because they are on the ground and, therefore, feel the pulses of the grassroots who will in the future, determine the fate of the party come 2024.
ENSURING THAT THE RIGHT LEADER IS CHOSEN
It is also a paramount duty of the new executives to ensure that the right of person is chosen to lead the party in the 2024 presidential election. Already, names are being bandied around for the leadership position. That is very important because any attempt to compromise their position on the flagbearer, will deepen the woes of the party and affect it badly in the next election. They have to ensure a fair playing ground in the parliamentary primaries to choose competent and well- groomed candidates for the general election in 2024.
The year 2024, is a bit far from now to assess the chances of any political party in the upcoming election, but the various afrobarometer surveys by research institutions and pollsters so far conducted across the country, indicated that the majority of Ghanaians were not comfortable with the ruling NPP when it came to the next election. According to findings from some of these researches, “the economy is not moving in the right direction, hence the high cost of living and general economic hardships among the people.” They claimed the fact that we had run to the International Monetary Fund for a bailout, clearly indicated that the Akufo-Addo/ Bawumia-led administration had disappointed Ghanaians and that they could not manage the country well. To the majority of Ghanaians, if election is to be conducted today or anytime soon, the NPP will lose massively.
AFROBAROMETER REPORT AND REACTION FROM PRESIDENT
However, President Akufo-Addo in his address to the NPP National Delegates Conference, dispelled the claim that the party was not doing well. According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine accounted for the present economic challenges in the country. He said the party was going to negotiate a good deal with the IMF,a deal that would allow the government to build a sound economy that would take the country out of the difficult economic challenges.
Time is, indeed, running fast and we are just a little over two years to our next general election to elect a new President since the mandate of President Akufo-Addo is coming to an end. He has a difficult task to leave a good and sound legacy to his successor in view of the present state of the economy. However, we hope that things will change rapidly in the shortest possible time.
BY CHARLES NEEQUAYE
Contact email/WhatsApp of author:
0277753946/0248933366
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
