Features
The threat of food shortage in Africa
• Africa has around 600 million hectares of uncultivated arable land,
roughly 60 per cent of the global total
Even though all sectors of the economy in Ghana and elsewhere in the world are important, it is necessary that equal attention is paid to each of these sectors, especially the food and agriculture sector due to its essential contribution to the economy.
This is important because it is the agricultural sector that produces food and essential raw materials to feed the people and the nation. Without food, the people in any country cannot eat and become strong to go about their normal duties.
QUALITY FOOD
If people are well fed from quality food, they become strong and healthy and hardly fall sick assuming the environment in which they live is kept clean for the survival of the people.
Some credible institutions in the world such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have started warning African countries including Ghana to be very careful and position themselves for the farmine which is likely to confront them.
IMF WARNING
Indeed the IMF is warning of impending food security issues for Ghana and other African countries due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The Fund said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed food and energy-related commodities to record levels on the global market.
The captured concern, it should be noted, is in the IMF’s Regional Economic Outlook Report released quite recently. This concern cannot be taken for granted.
The report has already made it clear that many countries in Africa are already struggling when it comes to food security, inadequate production of goods and services and also lack of many consumables needed by people in the African region to live good lives as a way of improving upon their general welfare.
NEED TO TAKE NOTE OF THE WARNING
Since Ghana is in the African region and has been mentioned in the report, there is the need for authorities in this country to take note of this warning and reposition themselves for the great battle ahead. Needless to say, the Russian-Ukraine conflict has created shortages in food supply from that part of the world to other areas. Apart from finished products coming from Russia and Ukraine, shortages of many raw materials for food production are being experienced, thereby making it extremely difficult for countries close to Russia and Ukraine to export adequate quantities of food and raw materials to other parts of the world including Africa.
The countries around such as Hungary, Slovakia, Czech, Romania, etc are thinking of their own food security and, therefore, are not in a rush to export their food items to Africa.
Even in a situation where they are willing to export some of these food items, the products have been strongly affected by inflation. For this reason, the food items are exported to countries in Africa at high costs since it has become extremely difficult for them to be produced at cheaper prices.
IMPORTS AT HIGH PRICES
The world today is, therefore, faced with a situation in which a variety of food items are imported at high prices. What Africa can do is to stop being import-oriented as far as food items and raw materials are concerned, so that they can depend on their own selves for adequate food production. This is what Ghana and other African countries need to do to forestall the dangers associated with food insecurity.
Ghana’s programme known as “Planting for Food and Jobs” together with other good programmes in the agricultural sector have come in at the right time. Indeed, had it not been this good programme of food planting, the situation would have been worse.
COVID-19 AND SHORTAGES
When the COVID-19 struck the world and created sudden shortages in food production, it is food items from this food programme that saved Ghana as a country. It made it possible for the people to be fed in all parts of the country because food items had been produced in abundance. Unfortunately, the food situation now cannot be said to be the best because of the soaring prices of foodstuffs in the country.
The prices of locally produced crops have become expensive because some of the raw materials such as fertiliser are imported. Since the fertiliser comes from the Russian-Ukraine area, their prices have naturally gone high, so we are expected to be confronted with high prices from now onwards until the end of the war between Russia and Ukraine. If the war does not end today or immediately, things will continue to be worse. Already, the prices of food items as well as fertiliser keep rising and rising. With the price of crude oil also rising higher and higher, it is becoming increasingly difficult for many people in African countries to cope with the unfavourable economic situation. Such a situation, unfortunate as it is, must end now and this is why we expect the two countries at war to reconsider their positions and the interest of the entire world, and do what they can to bring the war to an end.
It has been stated by certain people time and again that, it is not God the creator of the world who will bring an end to the world. Rather, it is the activities of man that will bring the world to an end.
RUSSIA AND UKRAINE
And how true this sounds in the light of what is going on between Russia and Ukraine!
Meanwhile, Ghana ought to continue to improve upon its Planting for Food and Jobs programme, so that enough can be produced to feed her own people and possibly the countries around. Also, the country needs to restrategise and begin to produce its own fertiliser to forestall similar occurrences in the future.
ORGANIC FERTILISER
Organic fertiliser is easily obtainable within the country. The problem, however, is with the manufacture of chemical fertiliser which is usually imported. However, since efforts have been made to produce vaccines within the country in light of the experience of the COVID-19, we can attempt at producing our own chemical fertiliser also for the country.
ECONOMIC SITUATION
The economic situation today is very challenging but with the right policies in place, Ghana will be able to overcome any obstacles and challenges that confront it today.
By Dr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
Contact email/whatsApp address of author:
Pradmat201@gmail.com (0553318911)
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
