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Vikings stir up
The Viking Spirit is Holy Spirit. It is a cool, quiet, powerful spirit. It descends like a dove on official residents of Mensah Sarbah Hall and they prophesy. The tutors are likely to speak in tongues and the honourable hall master may do signs and wonders.
Unlike the Holy Spirit, however, the Viking Spirit can be rebellious. The Vandals of Commonwealth know it. The only hall Vandals are uncomfortable with is Sarbah. The Vikings have often used wits and chicanery to tame the wild Vandals.
When I was a young Viking, I was a strategist of the hall. I was also the hall astrologer and told the fortunes of the hall when it came to war with the Vandals. My room-mate, Akortey Anaara, was at the time a numerologist who used figures to read the outcome of conflicts.
It often turned out that sometimes the Vandals saw it fit to sue for peace. And peace was granted. I must admit, however, that when it came to football, the Vandals thrashed us bad.
Today, we can all be grateful that the Viking spirit is still intact. A little sign of it emerged recently when Vikings rose against their senior tutor. It is rebellious and unacceptable. But it means the spirit is very much alive.
Anyhow, it was not exactly a coup d’état. Far from it. Just a stir, a harmless mutiny. They’ve been asked by the senior tutor to send out all refrigerators from the rooms of the hall. Wallahi! You lie bad!
Well, in our time, the students would not have over-reacted, probably because life was a bit more manageable. Today life is difficult for the students. They are over-crowded, they have to get their own food, and there is no romance because one student cannot ‘narrow’ five or six others without precipitating in a civil war.
The last time I visited Legon, I was sad. No breathing space! When students were paired, life was good; today, the rooms are like secondary school dormitories, when some students are senior citizens with children and grand-children, and even great grandchildren.
To live with five or six others in a tiny room can have its own social, religious, economic and political implications. For all you know, there can be political alliances formed, and this can be interesting until it degenerates into a boxing showdown in the corridor or balcony. The NDC guys are specialists in upper-cuts. With the NPP ones, you certainly have to watch your balls. Asee ho!
However, the most dangerous is religion. A Muslim student must wake up at 5:00am to say his prayers. Allah Ku Baru! Allah Ku Baru! The guy next to him might be a Bahai who enjoys his sleep only at dawn. Moreover, he is macho and does not tolerate nonsense. The other guy on the far east may also be a born-again who can only catch the Holy Spirit over-speed at exactly 4:00 am. When he speaks in tongues, the building shakes.
The paddy-man sandwiched somewhere in the mezzanine west has a problem with his alimentary system. He easily develops gas in his colon, and he is only comfortable when he releases the gas on regular basis. So the rook is always air conditioned in a manner that can cause nausea, vomiting and nightmares.
So it turns out that every student contributes his quota to the general discomfort, and this is bound to affect academic work in a very radical way. When some of the students want their peace to sleep, others want to cram throughout the night. The next morning everyone is restive, sleepy-eyed, furious and ready to punch. And the good news is that Madam Amoakohene wants all refrigerators out, defaulters to face revolutionary action.
Well, students are supposed to be obedient. In our time, we were very obedient. May be, it was because we were not ordered to send our refrigerators out and we were not as frustrated as today’s students. We were very nice with the hall tutors and often shared lagers with them.
I am sure the senior tutor means well, except that she did not understand the viewpoint of the students and, of course, their frustration with life on campus. One refrigerator could be allowed in every room for the common use of the inmates. Of course, more than one refrigerator per room can create space problems, and every student cannot bring his own refrigerator.
I hear the hall is thinking about a common room for refrigerators. The students aren’t pleased with that. You can’t trust others – stealing and poisoning are cited as possible.
Whatever it is, the hall tutors will have to sit down with the students and find a compromise bearing in mind that the students are already suffering and need some comfort to cope with academic work.
Fact also is, some of us old Vikings aren’t pleased with the bad publicity about the hall. It went to the extent that, the issue had to be discussed on a radio station with Madam doing a lot of elaboration and some damage control.
She is intelligent, very articulate and sounds like a Beijing activist. May be she is the best person for the job, after all. A bit of patience on her part would do, though. The students need it. They need love and understanding because they are highly-strung and in tight corners.
If you hear them complaining you’d be sad. A Volta girl was complaining to me the other day. Her mates are just not neat at all. They are noisy, unkempt and disgusting. Some bring their boyfriends to the rooms. Sometimes the boys sleep and snore hard. Jesus Christ of Nazareth! If the girl fails her exams no one should blame her.
The university needs lots of hostels to cope with the current situation, I bet.
This article was first published on Saturday April 7, 2001
ALL these forms of responsibility are sustained by one central pillar: spiritual and moral discipline. Without it, knowledge becomes pride, power becomes oppression, and freedom becomes chaos.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The strong man is not the one who overcomes others by his strength, but the one who controls himself while in anger.” (Bukhari, Hadith 6114)
This control taqwā is the root of responsibility. Imam Al-Ghazali (1105) in Ihya Ulum al-Din wrote that the purification of the soul (tazkiyah al-nafs) is the foundation of all reform. A responsible man disciplines his desires, guards his words, and acts with sincerity, even when no one is watching.
We live in an era of temptation — social media, materialism, and moral relativism challenge our values. But men of faith must rise above these influences and remember that Allah is Al-Raqīb — the Ever-Watchful. Spiritual accountability anchors moral behaviour.
8. Emotional and psychological responsibility
Responsibility also includes taking care of one’s mental and emotional well-being. Many men suffer silently under the burden of expectation — believing that showing emotion is weakness.
Yet, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم shed tears, expressed compassion, and sought counsel.
Psychologist Aaron Beck (1976) in Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders emphasised that emotional maturity begins with self-awareness, recognising one’s feelings, and managing them constructively.
Group counselling sessions like this are essential; they help men share, heal, and grow together. No man should walk alone; strength is not isolation, but the courage to seek support. Let us normalise counselling, mentorship, and brotherhood among men. For in unity, we find healing; in shared wisdom, we find growth.
9. The five questions of accountability
The Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The feet of the son of Adam shall not move on the Day of Resurrection before he is asked about five things:
- His life — how he lived it;
- His youth — how he used it;
- His wealth — how he earned it and how he spent it;
- His knowledge — how he acted upon it.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2416; also reported in al-Darimi)
This hadith captures the essence of personal accountability — the cornerstone of responsibility in Islam. It reminds every believer that every blessing carries a duty, and every stage of life demands conscious action.
Let’s break it down:
- “His life — how he lived it”
Life is a divine trust (amānah). A responsible man lives with purpose, not pleasure as his goal. He invests his time in doing good, serving others, and seeking Allah’s pleasure. - “His youth — how he used it”
Youth is the most energetic and creative phase — and thus the most accountable. As Ibn al-Qayyim noted in Madarij al-Salikin, “The strength of youth is a blessing, and blessings invite responsibility.” Men must use their youth to build character, gain knowledge, and resist destructive habits. - “His wealth — how he earned it and how he spent it”
Financial integrity is a key part of manhood. Islam demands transparency, fairness, and generosity. The Qur’an warns against wastefulness: “Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils.” (Qur’an 17:27) A responsible man earns lawfully, gives in charity, and spends wisely. - “His knowledge — how he acted upon it”
Knowledge is meaningless if not practiced. Imam Al-Ghazali wrote that knowledge without action is a burden, not a blessing. A responsible man translates his learning into character, leadership, and service.
This Hadith teaches that responsibility in Islam is total and it covers time, energy, wealth, and knowledge. It’s not only about what we achieve, but how we live, how we give, and how we grow.
10. Summary
Responsibility, therefore, is not a single act but a lifestyle — one that touches every sphere of life:
- Educational responsibility empowers us to think and serve.
- Marital and family responsibility keeps our homes strong.
- Environmental responsibility safeguards our future.
- Civic responsibility builds our nation.
- Moral and spiritual responsibility sustains our integrity.
- Emotional responsibility maintains our well-being.
A responsible man is thus an educated mind, a loving heart, a disciplined spirit, and a servant leader. He is not perfect, but he is purposeful.
11. Conclusion
My brothers, as we look toward the future, let us remember the divine reminder:
“The believers, men and women, are protectors of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong.” (Qur’an 9:71)
Our communities are counting on us — our sisters, mothers, and children look to us for leadership and example. Let us not disappoint them. When we build responsible men today, we build a Ghana that is peaceful, prosperous, and principled.
Let us be men of knowledge and humility, strength and compassion, faith and fairness. And may Allah grant us the wisdom to lead ourselves before we lead others. Āmīn.
Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, Kpone Katmanso Municipal Chief Imam, governance expert and certified counselor.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
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Today, I focus on Ghanaian/African migrants in Finland and their mental health. Mental health is an important subject and a huge problem in the world.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), brain health is the state of brain functioning across cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioural and motor domains, allowing a person to realise their full potential over the life course, irrespective of the presence or absence of disorders.
Studies have shown that maternal and paternal distress are associated with reduced linear growth of their children. I recently participated in a seminar on mental health among (African) migrants in Finland. We all wondered about the prevalence or incidence of mental illness among migrants in Finland. It will be interesting to know the statistics about mental illness among migrants in Finland.
Mental health in Finland
In Finland, studies have examined how behavioural risk factors mediate the effects of childhood disadvantage on adult psychological distress. A correlation is shown between parent and infant psychotherapy on maternal mental health and psychological functioning and children’s welfare.
There are also research and other reports of social child welfare interventions where at times children are even taken away (child removals) from the parent or parents for safe keeping.
Experts say it is important how parents plan their leaves in order to renew or rebuild their mental strength to be able to take good care of their kids.
Anyway, studies are limited about parent-child psychological distress and situations where children are taken away from their parents among minorities, such as African migrants. It will be interesting to know the figures and other aspects of mental health issues among the migrant group(s) in Finland.
Health and migrant vulnerability
Health experts point out that migrant communities can be highly vulnerable to diseases, especially certain infectious diseases. Experts say those who came to Finland as refugees or asylum seekers and their family members are often in a more vulnerable position in terms of their health (see www.thl.fi).
Research and media reports have shown in many countries that there are structural or societal/cultural factors that result in quite high rates of infection or ill-health among migrants, when compared to the majority population.
It is suggested that for example language barrier, lack of information, the nature of the work of migrants in professions where working from home is not possible (for example during the Covid-19 pandemic), not accessing healthcare, etc. can present some of the factors for migrants’ vulnerability to diseases and infections.
Childhood disadvantage
Information about the issue. Such a situation was much evidenced to reduce stress and anxiety during the coronavirus situation.
Thus, these associations and institutions become networks that create an important social capital as well as outlets for sharing and gaining information or knowledge.
Finland is committed to the integration of migrants into the Finnish society, as I keep pointing out. A number of research studies from surveys and other in-depth enquiries have shown a trend of increasing efforts to integrate African and other migrants into the Finnish society.
As the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has pointed out, health and wellbeing are an important part of integration of immigrants in Finland (see www.thl.fi).
There have been studies on whether behavioural risk factors mediate the effects of childhood disadvantage on adult psychological distress and child welfare intervention by social services. Unhealthy behaviours and their associations with subsequent sickness among Finnish young and early midlife employees have been studied.
When it comes to this subject and/or the effect of adult psychological distress on children’s wellbeing among African migrants in Finland, there is limited knowledge.
We should hope for more information to augment understandings about adult psychological distress and effect on children’s wellbeing among African migrants in order to inform policy directions.
Such studies will help to create awareness among migrants in Finland about their mental health, its effect on them and their children’s wellbeing, as well as where to seek therapy.
Migrant associations, social networks, and information
Migrants associations are already doing much to help in education on mental health and have become important points for securing. Public agencies, migrant associations and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Finland have been publishing information to help educate people about their health and wellbeing.
Generally, migrant associations formally create awareness among their members and other migrants usually in collaboration with some Finnish institutions, and are thus an important tool for several migrants to be positively active and to get their interests and claims heard.
As I wrote previously, the role of migrant associations 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!
By Perpetual Crentsil
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