Features
Unity and economic development
Unity is strength
The world as we know constitutes one huge unit but is made up of different countries, each with its own culture and tradition, aimed at pursuing different forms of agenda with the aim of achieving their respective national objectives.
Each of the countries of the world seeks to achieve peace and unity in order to realise its own peculiar economic and developmental agenda. As each country succeeds in attaining its developmental agenda, the world as a whole attains development. This is because all parts of the country begin to attain development at the same time or even at different times, making the world attain a certain level of development in totality.
When we take Ghana as a unit of the globe, we begin to realise that, as a country, Ghana has its own developmental agenda. The developmental agenda can be attained when all parts of the country known as Ghana come together in unity for the attainment of a common purpose of economic development. This economic development cannot come about easily, but within a framework of unity that will see to it that the productive parts of the different sections of the country are maximised in output so that, in totality, a higher standard of living can be achieved.
As of now, Ghana is made up of 16 regions, each of which is very important as far as the developmental agenda is concerned. The regions have their own resources, which, when harnessed very well, can go a long way toward promoting economic growth and development for all Ghanaians. What this means is that every part of the country is very important and ought to contribute to the totality of the agenda for national development.
None of the 16 regions can stand alone on their own, so all resources will have to be put together and blended in a manner that will lead to nothing but rapid growth.
For example, new iron deposits have been discovered in the Oti Region, and these deposits are promising in the sense that they are of the highest quality for transaction. Such deposits can contribute to the construction industry in the country and elsewhere.
Even though it is found in the Oti Region, it is meant to help in the total development of the entire country. Proceeds from these iron deposits can be used for the development of not only the people of Oti but all Ghanaians in the country.
It is for this reason that each of the regions of Ghana constitutes an important unit that must join all other regions and contribute to the welfare of all Ghanaians. For example, the bauxite, manganese, gold, diamond, oil, and other essential deposits found in various parts of the country are used to develop not only a section of the country but, indeed, all parts of the entity known as Ghana. This explains why national elections are organised for the entire country from time to time to empower qualified residents to vote and make choices for the leader of the country, for the parliamentarians who represent them, and also for all levels of leadership that are brought into being through elections for the smooth governance of the entire country.
The essential point to note here is that we need to pursue aggressive national unity that will help promote all essential economic dimensions to fulfill the needs and aspirations of the country. It is important to keep this in mind, so we cannot run away from this fact.
All Ghanaians have their economic and social needs at various levels of their lives, and all these needs ought to be met in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of everyone in this noble country.
When the country becomes divided, as we see from time to time in our national politics, it does not help matters much because it slows down progress. Every Ghanaian needs rapid socioeconomic development, so we need to think about making the right choices politically so as to commit ourselves to the smooth process of development.
The vigorous nature with which threats are issued to people in parliament on national developmental issues has become a major issue of concern to peace-loving people in the country.
The decision of a section of our parliamentarians to flex their muscles at one another, particularly political opponents, threatening mayhem and brimstone of fire, is mind-boggling.
The developed countries of the world did not emerge in their present status instantly but had to go through a hard process of struggle before getting to their present stage. Progress cannot be made easily, so we should always bear this in mind, irrespective of whether our preferred political party is in power or not.
Various administrations in this country since independence have contributed their lot to the national developmental agenda. What the Convention Peoples Party achieved immediately after independence is meant for all Ghanaians, so we need to recognise things as such.
Even the military governments that we have had in this country have contributed in some way, in spite of their lapses. However, we have learnt a lot from the lapses of these governments.
What this means is that, having gone through various forms of political and economic experiences, we now know what is good for us, so once we decide that a certain government should be put in place to govern this country, we need to give it the needed support so that they can fly the flag of Ghana to a very high level of development. Today, the leader of the country, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is a Christian, while the Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia is a Moslem. Similarly, Parliament is also made up of people of different faiths, but together we are moving forward as a people, encouraging one another to achieve the ultimate. This is what we need in this country.
Thus, threats of mayhem from political opponents and the desire to run down certain groups of people in this country because of political differences do not augur well for the entire country. Ghana is made up of different kinds of people in terms of religion, ethnicity, cultural practices, and so on, but we all need to recognise one another as important and move on in life. The free SHS and promotion of free Technical Vocational Education and Training are very good, so we should not find ways of running them down. In the same way, the reorganisation of the banking sector has helped to increase confidence in that sector. Even though this is good, certain people are looking at it through their political lenses and falsely claiming that they are not good simply because some of their friends and cronies dishonestly went for assistance from the Bank of Ghana to falsely support what they described as their banking services.
The banking reforms resulted in the consolidation and amalgamation of some of the banks, with some people being laid off to ensure efficiency. These are the results of the banking reforms, so we need to acknowledge this and support punishment for all those who helped to bring about this mess.
In essence, we need national unity in this country for the promotion of our national economic agenda so that what is good for us all can be enhanced for the good of each of us. Without unity, the economic agenda cannot be vigorously pursued, and this is why we all need to come together in spite of our differences to pursue our common national socioeconomic agenda.
May God help us in the attainment of our national aspiration in line with our National Pledge and National Anthem for the economic good of the country.
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
