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The AU and Ghanaian /African Diaspora in Finland

 My write up today is about the Ghanaian/African Diaspora in Finland and how they marked the Africa Day as a day to celebrate the African Union (AU) on 25th May of each year. I dedicate it to the AU.

Incidentally, 25th May is my birth­day too, but I focus mainly on the AU and activities of the Ghanaian/African migrants in Finland to mark that day.

What I write here is to highlight some positive things from activities to celebrate the AU’s anniversary.

The African Union

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History tells us that the Organisa­tion of African Unity (OAU) now African Union was formed on 25th May 1963 in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, with Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah playing an instrumental role.

The African Union (AU) is a conti­nental body consisting of the 55 mem­ber states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was offi­cially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999), according to infor­mation on its website.

The Union promotes a prosperous and peaceful Africa which is driven by its own citizens and represents a dynamic force on the global arena (see https://au.int/en/overview).

History

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The history is that in May 1963, 32 Heads of independent African States met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to sign the Charter creating Africa’s first post-independence continental institu­tion, The Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

The OAU was the manifestation of the pan-African vision for an Africa that was united, free and in control of its own destiny. This was solemnised in the OAU Charter in which the found­ing fathers recognised that freedom, equality, justice and dignity were essential objectives for the achieve­ment of the legitimate aspirations of the African peoples, the information further says.

The guiding philosophy was that of Pan-Africanism which centred on African socialism and promoted African unity, the communal charac­teristic and practices of African communities, and a drive to embrace Africa’s culture and common heritage (see https:// au.int/en/overview).

Diaspora activities in Finland

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There is no doubt that the African Diaspora and people of African descent are eager to portray and promote a sense of African unity, the communal characteristics and practices as pertains in African commu­nities, and a drive to embrace Africa’s culture and common heritage in Finland.

This is in agreement with the AU’s objective that the Diaspora Division serves as the focal point and hub for imple­menting the African Union decision to invite and encourage the African Dias­pora to participate in the building and development of the African continent (see https://au.int/diaspora-division).

Unity in diversity

Almost all activities organised have endeavoured to portray a sense of unity in diversity, bringing together the diverse cultural identity of the people originally from their African countries.

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Although customs of, for example, northern African societies differ vastly from the customs of other parts of the continent, there are more common customs and cultural similarities.

With their various cultural and religious backgrounds, the African Diaspora in Finland promote unity and integration without any considerations to the fact that there are different countries in Africa and that there could be vastly diverse identities.

Enlightening information

and Cultural display

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Events organised by members of the African Diaspora focus mainly on information that is enlightening about the African Union and its tenets as well as the African culture.

Some of the highlights of the events involved group of people that holding discussions about what the African Diaspora such as academics and other stakeholders in Finland and elsewhere can do to drive change in the education sector in Africa.

Participants from and representing the various countries on the continent took part in the activities to commem­orate the Africa Day.

They engaged in cooking and eat­ing of some African kinds of food (or an improvisation from food combinations) which are deemed typically Ghanaian or that of other African countries.

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African migrants, including those originally from Ghana and other African countries organised celebrations and other events in typical “African way”. They adorned African clothes and performed cultural activities portraying the cultures of the various countries of the continent. Thank you!

By Perpetual Crentsil

Email: perpetualcrentsil@yahoo.com

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Features

The power of change: Understanding the process and catalysts

CHANGE is an inevitable and essential aspect of life, shaping individuals, organizations, and societies. It can be transformative, leading to growth, innova­tion, and progress. But how is change created?

This comprehensive article explores the process and cat­alysts of change.

The Change Process

The change process involves several stages:

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1. Awareness: Recognising the need for change.

2. Assessment: Evaluating the current state.

3. Visioning: Envisioning the desired future state.

4. Planning: Developing strategies and action plans.

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5. Implementation: Execut­ing the plan.

6. Evaluation: Monitoring progress and making adjust­ments.

Catalysts of Change

Several factors can catalyse change:

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1. Internal Motivation: Per­sonal or organisational desire for improvement.

2. External Pressures: Market trends, technological advancements, or regulatory requirements.

3. Leadership: Visionary leaders driving change.

4. Crisis: Forced change due to unexpected events.

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5. Innovation: New ideas and technologies.

Types of Change

Change can be:

1. Incremental: Gradual, small-scale changes.

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2. Transformational: Radi­cal, large-scale changes.

3. Strategic: Planned, delib­erate changes.

4. Emergent: Spontaneous, unplanned changes.

Change Management

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Effective change manage­ment involves:

1. Communication: Clear messaging and stakeholder engagement.

2. Training: Developing skills and knowledge.

3. Support: Providing re­sources and guidance.

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4. Monitoring: Tracking progress and addressing chal­lenges.

Resistance to Change

Resistance can arise due to:

1. Fear: Uncertainty and anxiety.

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2. Habit: Comfort with the status quo.

3. Lack of Understanding: Insufficient information.

4. Power Dynamics: Threats to authority or control.

Overcoming Resistance

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Strategies to overcome resistance include:

1. Education: Providing information and context.

2. Involvement: Engaging stakeholders in the change process.

3. Support: Addressing con­cerns and fears.

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4. Leadership: Demonstrat­ing commitment and vision.

Sustaining Change

To sustain change:

1. Embed Change: Integrate new practices and behaviors.

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2. Monitor Progress: Contin­uously evaluate and adjust.

3. Celebrate Successes: Recognize achievements.

4. Maintain Momentum: Keep the change process moving.

Conclusion

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Change is a complex and multifaceted process. Under­standing the change process, catalysts, and management strategies can help individ­uals and organizations navi­gate and create meaningful change.

Recommendations

1. Develop a Change Mind­set: Embrace change as an opportunity.

2. Build Change Capacity: Develop skills and resources.

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3. Foster a Culture of Change: Encourage innovation and experimentation.

By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson

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Features

 This question of love

 The question of love is something that will be talked about until king­dom come.

A discussion I observed on the internet about a 19 year old who had accepted the proposal of a 67 year old man reminded me of the preaching of Pastor Mensa Otabil.

He talked about the a scenario where a 60 year old man enters into a relationship with a 22 year old lady and the lady tells him I love you, when he has a protruded bel­ly, with all the accompanying creases and he believes what she says.

He further went on to say that a whole grown up man, allows a young lady to call him “babe” and he does not feel offended.

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He further went on to preach that, this young lady, young enough to be his daughter, says “babe, I love you” and this man sheepishly laughs and does not realise, he is being taken advantage of.

What keeps ringing in my ears is his statement that “what is there to love about a protruding sagging belly?”

There is no regulated way for how a person falls in love. It reminds me of a funny statement that Pastors or marriage counsellors often use, that if you fall in love, you may hurt yourself.

Love I believe is a beautiful thing but it is not something that should be toyed with. People getting into relation­ships should consider the realities that are bound to happen as the years go by.

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Jealousy is a very de­structive influence. It can influence a person to harm his wife or her husband or to even commit murder. There has been countless reported instances where a man has poured acid on his wife or girlfriend, slashed his wife to death with a cutlass because he suspected, the wife was cheating on him.

It is something that blinds one to right reasoning and once your reasoning stops functioning, then the wrong side of us takes over and the result is nothing to write home about. In most cases, it comes out after the horrible act has been perpetrated, that there was no truth in the issue that caused the jealou­sy, after all. However, a life would have been maimed, disfigured or destroyed for­ever.

One of the causes of jealou­sy in marriage is the age gap difference. Whether we like it or not we shall grow old one day if God by his grace enables us to live long. When we grow old, a lot of changes occur in our bodies and things we used to do with ease, suddenly become a huge challenge and it could be very frustrating.

One of the things that drives a man crazy is when he has grown weaker in bed and sees the wife interacting with younger men in a suspicious manner that seems to suggest that there is more to it than meets the eye.

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Jealousy will definitely be kindled in the heart of such a man whose wife is far young­er than him like this 67 year old man wanting to marry a 19 year young lady.

In 30 years’ time, this man will be 97 and his muscles would have become weaker affecting his erection. His wife would be 49 and will have to be satisfied in bed in a manner that this man cannot execute. What do you think is going to happen?

Marriage Counsellors advo­cate that the ideal age gap between marriage partners should not be more than 10 years. This is one way to eliminate suspicions which results in mistrust when the man grows old and gets weak­er because it is a known fact that sex is very important to men than women.

A man becomes very wor­ried when his sexual perfor­mance level drops. This is what causes some men to act in a manner that is condem­nable. My advice, walk into love, don’t fall into it. God bless.

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NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

By Laud Kissi-Mensah

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