Features
When will the fire disasters end?
Fire disasters are gradually becoming an almost normal event in this country. The aftermath of these fire disasters, bring economic hardships to people whose properties have been ravaged, emotional traumas and negative life changing experiences.
There are two main types of fire disasters, those that affect individual homes and those which affect a large group of people like market fires, school dormitories etc. The picture of a man who was weeping uncontrollably after his wife and three children got burnt in a fire disaster which struck his house, will never leave my memory.
The trauma that this individual will experience is so severe that it has the potential to permanently affect his mental health. It is something that any person with an iota of humanity will not wish upon his or her worst enemy.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) have reported that there were 6436 fire incidents in 2024 which was about 7.7 per cent more than what was recorded in 2023. If this was a GDP percentage growth figure, it would have been good news but this is incidents of fire and therefore very bad news. This year alone, there has been at least two major fire disasters, one at Kantamanto and the recent one at Adum Blue Light area.
TV reports showing wailing women, traders whose livelihood had been destroyed by the devastating fire, was heart wrenching. The question then is, what are the steps or measures being put in place to prevent this incidents from recurring? Given the quality and calibre of personnel in the GNFS, it beats my imagination why such market fires cannot be prevented or if they occur, are not readily dealt with to prevent them getting out of control.
The GNFS conducts investigation into every fire disaster in this country. It can therefore be safely concluded that, they have identified the major causes of these fire outbreaks and there must be measures, to prevent their recurrence. It is therefore unacceptable to see that a fire breaks out and it cannot be contained fast enough, to prevent it from spreading out of control.
The problem in this country is that, we are quick to set up committees to investigate issues but little or nothing is done regarding implementation of the findings or recommendations. A certain attitudinal change is required to ensure a permanent solution for these fire disasters.
If markets are created without proper accesses such that, fire tenders will have easy access to all parts of the markets, not much can be done in the event of a fire outbreak. One of the major issues which according to the PRO of the GNFS, prevented them from quickly attacking the fire, was a lack of access into the market.
One important thing we have to pay attention to is a complaint from the fire men regarding access to hydrant points. The GNFS has reported on several occasions, a lack of access to hydrant points as a result of deliberate building of structures over them. These issues have to be addressed so that fire disasters could be prevented. The fire equipment required by the GNFS must be paid attention to.
The infrastructure that existed some 20 years ago are different from what exists now. Fire tenders with ladders which were adequate for firefighting, are now not fit for purpose because we now have very tall structures in cities like Accra.
The GNFS must be fully and appropriately resourced. Let the powers that be, prioritise fire prevention in this country to prevent painful experiences. God bless.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
By Laud-Kissi-Mensah
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
