Features
What a hardworking President! (Part 2)
There is no doubt that in the light of his achievement, President Akufo-Addo has proved to be a leader who is very hardworking, is committed to what he stands for and is also prepared to leave for this country a list of achievements for the benefits of Ghanaians today and yet unborn.
We have already spoken about his achievements in a form of the free educational system, in digitalisation, in the health sector and remarkable growth in the agricultural sector. All these, put together, show that he is a great leader who must be emulated by all countries in Africa today. The opposition in Ghana have done all they can to vilify him, but he has always risen high above their evil intentions to serve his country to the best of his ability which is unparalleled in the history of this country. The discussion of his achievements will reveal that indeed he is a great leader, and that Ghanaians will have to retain his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in power in 2024.
The Chief in the village of Berepro was faced with preservation of foodstuff in his community. The Chief and his elders thought about how to solve this problem, knowing that in previous times leaders who preceded him had not done anything meaningful to solve the problem. God being with him, this chief and his elders thought of traditional ways of preserving their produce and engaging in trade with the other villages around. Within a short time, the village of Berepro enjoyed better standard of living together with their neighbours.
INTRA-CONTINENTAL TRADE
Similarly, the government of President Akufo-Addo has done very well when it comes to promoting intra-continental trade in Africa. Until recently, many countries on the continent of Africa, were trading in larger volumes with countries outside the continent, while intra-regional trade was very low. African countries, realising this as a short-coming, have decided to come together and promote trade among themselves. This is what has led to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF AFCFTA?
First, it is to create a single continental market for goods and services and thereby accelerate Continental Customs Union. Second, it is to expand intra-African trade through better harmonisation and co-ordination of trade liberalisation and facilitation regimes. Third, it is to resolve the challenges of multiple forms of membership and expedite regional and continental processes. Finally, the Agreement seeks to enhance competitiveness at the industry and enterprise level through the exploitation of opportunities for large scale production, continental market access and better reallocation of resources.
One good move made by the President of the Republic is that he fought hard and negotiated with his colleagues for the headquarters of this noble programme to be sited in Accra. As we speak, AfCFTA headquarters is in Accra, bringing about numerous benefits to the country. First, it has raised the image of Ghana to a high level as a country that has set up and accommodate the AfCFTA secretariat.
Secondly, it goes to show Ghana as a peaceful and well secured country that must be trusted to accommodate the secretariat. Thirdly, all the officials connected to the secretariat will be based in Accra and indirectly bring in some revenue to the country. Fourthly, Ghana will also take advantage of the secretariat and conscientise its people on the need for making use of applicable standards in the production of goods and services for export to other countries on the continent. Furthermore, the local staff to be employed by the secretariat stands the chance of benefitting Ghanaians. This shows that Ghana stands to gain a lot for accepting to host the secretariat in line with the vision of President Akufo-Addo.
Fighting for the secretariat to be set up in Accra received very little opposition from other countries on the continent. This is because Ghana was seen as a beacon of hope for the rest of the continent. Several countries supported Ghana’s bid to host the AfCFTA secretariat and this did not come as a surprise when Ghana won the mandate to do so all because of President Akufo-Addo.
PLANTING FOR FOOD AND JOBS
In the agricultural sector, the President and his team introduced Planting for Food and Jobs as well as Rearing for Food and Export programmes. Also introduced was the One District One Factory concept and rolled it out in such a careful and vigorous manner that within the second and third years of his administration, the President had been able to produce a large quantity of foodstuff for consumption by the people of this country. Some of the food items were exported to neighbouring countries to feed the people there.
Neighbouring countries have been so enticed to Ghana that they are now rushing for the foodstuff available and today maize, yam, plantain and many others are running out of stock. What government must do in this case is to rigidly regulate the export of such products so that its own people will be fed adequately and be encouraged in their farming and farming-related businesses such as poultry so that the shortages can be curtailed to reasonable levels. Our neighbours must be fed but not to the detriment of Ghanaians.
Fruits like pineapple, watermelon and many others are being produced in various parts of the country under the programme and if things continue like this, Ghana will be a net exporter of food to the rest of the world as it is already doing, but of course not to the detriment of its people as has been pointed out already. Similarly, vegetables like tomatoes, onions, green pepper, garden eggs and others must be produced in large quantities so that people elsewhere can also benefit from such produce. In Demfefe in the Bono Region, for example, the 1D1F has set up Weddi Africa Tomato processing factory with 40,000 metric tonnes capacity. Here, 2,200 direct and indirect jobs have been created. It is not all the factories under the 1D1F that are agricultural in nature. Some of them produce non-agricultural products like garments.
COMMODITY EXCHANGE
In its wisdom, the government has been able to set up the Commodity Exchange which is helping to store the foodstuff produced so that they will not go bad within a short time since under the 1D1F, most of the factories established were agricultural in nature. The Commodity Exchange has helped to make food items available all year round. We should, however, not be happy with these achievements but continue to work hard under the programme, 1D1F, so that the best will be created for Ghana and Ghanaians for that matter.
Still on agriculture, much frantic efforts have been made in cocoa to increase output. Most of the cocoa trees were too old and had to be cut down to make way for new ones. Cutting them down required compensation for the cocoa farmers and this was provided by the government. Also, spraying of the cocoa trees as well as pruning were needed to energise the trees and make them produce more. All these have yielded positive results and today, Ghana has hit over one million tonnes of cocoa regarding production in that sector. Here too, kudos to the Akufo-Addo government and the Chief Executive of COCOBOD.
The programmes designed and implemented by the Akufo-Addo government is what as a country we would have to implement over the next decade or so to ensure that the country can begin to swim in greater prosperity than it is even doing now. We need to keep this in mind for a brighter future for all Ghanaians.
Contact email/WhatsApp of author:
Pradmat2013@gmail.com (0553318911)
######
Today, I focus on the Apostolic Church International in Finland, as I continue with my description of institutions and personalities and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland.
The Apostolic Church International, Finland (or, Apostolic International Association Ry) was established in October 9, 2023. The Church in Finland has seen significant strides and accomplishments within the short time that it has been established in Finland, which must be highlighted.
History of the Church in Ghana
The Apostolic Church Ghana originated from the 1904–1905 Welsh revival, officially established in Ghana (then called Gold Coast) in 1935 following connections between a local prayer group in Asamankese (a town in southern Ghana), led by Peter Newman Anim, and the Apostolic Church, UK. There were historical splits in 1939 and 1953, but the Apostolic Church attained autonomy in 1985.
Today, the Church is headquartered in Accra. Last year (2025), it dedicated its new 10-storey headquarters, “The Apostolic Church Tower,” in Frafraha, Adenta West in Accra.
Activities of the Apostolic Church in Finland
The Apostolic Church in Finland conducts church service on Sundays. The service starts at 11a.m. in the morning and closes by 1 p.m. in the afternoon. There are no other activities during other days for now.
The Minister in charge of the church in Finland is also the Area Head of Italy Area. He is Pastor Daniel Kofi Addison who is the new Italy Area Head, and has just been transferred from UK South Area to Italy Area during the just-ended Council Meeting in March this year. Italy Area comprises Italy, which has 13 Assemblies, Germany, one Assembly, and Finland, one Assembly.
Elder Ebenezer Amoaning-Coffie is the Presiding Elder in charge of the Assembly in Finland. A Presiding Elder is responsible for day to day activities of the church (Assembly) and reports to the District Pastor, or in the absence of the District Pastor, reports to the Area Head.
Achievements
The Apostolic Church International, Finland was officially registered under the Finnish Law, guaranteeing freedom of worship and providing legal foundation for future growth. The church service is conducted in both English and Twi.
The church opens its doors to all people of every nation, especially Ghanaians who are in Finland and other African nationals. Now, the membership comprises Ghanaians, Nigerians and Sierra Leoneans.
The Church and the Ghanaian migrant community in Finland
The Apostolic Church in Finland plays a prominent role as a religious group that serves Ghanaian migrants and others in the Finnish society.
Thus, the Apostolic 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.
Elder Amoaning-Coffie said that the main and primary aim of the church is to bring people closer to God. “We aim to win souls for Christ. We aim to preach the gospel to the world. By propagating the gospel to the people, we are hopeful that they will turn away from any ungodly ways and be good individuals in the community and in society in general”, he stated.
He said that everything is going well so far. A key challenge, however, is how to get more members especially the youth. As a new Assembly, we are in need of instrumentalists, for example. We pray to God Almighty to help us do His work, the Elder disclosed.
Integration
By its activities, the Apostolic 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 in Finland.
As I mentioned some time ago, the role of migrant associations and groups such as the Apostolic 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!
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
The landscape of the Ghanaian palate is shifting, and not necessarily for the better. In our bustling urban centres, from the streets of Accra to the suburbs of Kumasi, a quiet culinary revolution is taking place; one where the mortar and pestle are being replaced by the pizza oven and the deep fryer. This transition from traditional staple foods like fufu, banku, akple, kenkey, tuo zaafi, and ampesi toward “continental” dishes is more than just a change in appetite; it is a reflection of a deeper social struggle with identity and prestige.
The illusion of modernity
For many, “stepping out” for a meal has become synonymous with consuming foreign cuisine. There is an unspoken social hierarchy where a bowl of Abunuabunu is relegated to the village category, while burgers, pizzas are branded as prestigious choices. We have reached a stage where we equate foreign with modern and local with primitive.
This perception is a dangerous illusion. Our traditional dishes are marvels of culinary engineering complex, nutrient-dense, and deeply rooted in our history. When we choose a processed foreign import over a meal made from local tubers or fermented maize, we are not just changing our lunch; we are eroding the indigenous knowledge attached to our local ingredients and foods.
We need to turn the consumption of indigenous grains and tubers like millet, sorghum, and plantain into a statement of self-worth and national pride.
The cultural and health erosion
Every time a local dish disappears from a restaurant menu to make room for foreign fast food, we lose a piece of our cultural fabric. Traditional Ghanaian cooking is an art that requires patience and skill. By choosing the convenience of foreign fast food, we are raising a generation that may know the taste of a pepperoni pizza but cannot identify the rich, earthy profile of Prekese or the subtle tang of well-fermented dough dishes like corn porridge, banku, etew, abolo, agidi or kamfa, and kenkey.
Furthermore, we are at the crossroads of a nutrition transition. Replacing high-fiber, indigenous crops with calorie-dense but nutrient-poor foreign fast foods is driving a rise in lifestyle diseases such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and liver disease. We are trading our longevity for 15-minutes convenience or unhealthy diet.
A call for culinary patriotism
It is time for us to appreciate, preserve, and promote our indigenous foods and culinary traditions. We need to be proud of our local dishes, ingredients and cooking methods, rather than relying heavily on foreign or imported foods. We must stop viewing our local delicacies as low-class and start treating our culinary heritage as the high-end gastronomy it truly is.
True sophistication does not come from imitating Western fast food; it comes from innovation and adding values to our own resources. We see glimpses of this potential in the rise of branded Sobolo and the creative use of gluten-free plantain flour in modern baking of flour-based dishes such as bread, cakes, biscuits and others. This is the path forward. We must elevate our local dishes, making them as accessible, affordable, presentable and trendy as any foreign alternative.
To the hospitality industry: Innovate or stagnate
Our hotels and high-end restaurants must lead the charge. They must stop relegating local dishes to the “traditional corner” of the buffet, and apply the same culinary finesse given to imported dishes to our Fante Fante, apapransa, aborbi tadi, fetritoto, akple, abolo, yakayeke, fufu, ampesi, kokonte, wasawasa, tubani, apapransa, mpotompoto, kelewele, aliha, brukutu, pito, and other local dishes. The industry must enhance customer experiences making eating local dishes the ultimate luxury experience for both tourists and residents alike. We must elevate the presentation of our foods by using modern plating techniques to show that a bowl of light soup can be as visually stunning as a French consommé. We need to reclaim our Ghanaian plate before it is too late.
To the policy makers: Let us encourage buying of local ingredients to promote the local food industry and economy. There should be educational programmes and talks about the nutritional and cultural benefits of local foods so that people understand their value.
We need to encourage serving traditional dishes at school programmes, parties, and celebrations instead of only fast foods,
To the Youth: Let us value and appreciate our traditional dishes instead of always choosing foreign foods. There must be balance in our choice of local and foreign dishes. Confidence in our culture encourages others to respect it too. Our local dishes can also be promoted by sharing pictures, recipes, and videos on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp to make them attractive and trendy.
Young citizens must learn from their parents and elders how to prepare local meals to keep the knowledge and cultural relevance alive. Local dishes can be modernised to appeal to younger generations and tourists.
Conclusion
We cannot afford to trade our heritage for foreign cuisines which are gaining grounds across the country at an alarming rate. We must disabuse our minds of the perception that anything foreign or imported is better than those locally made. Our health, economy, and identity are tied to the soil. It is time to stop apologising for our local flavours and start celebrating them. It is possible to embrace modernity without losing ourselves and our cultural identity. Let us make the Ghanaian kitchen the heart of our modern identity once again.
By: Marilyn Gadogbe
