Features
The Ghanaian Diaspora and fake pastors
Today, I write about an issue I have been worried about for some time now. It is about how some pastors deceive other people, both at home and abroad.
My focus, however, is more on members of the Ghanaian Diaspora and how they are deceived and even duped by some pastors in Ghana. Please, do not get me wrong; I know there are many genuine and good pastors out there who help to solve people’s problems through powerful prayers and other kinds of support.
My point here is about false prophets or fake pastors who take advantage of others’ predicament to make claims and so-called prophecies in order to dupe unsuspecting people.
Highly religious
Many members of the Ghanaian Diaspora are highly religious. For example, in Europe research studies on religion and migrants indicate an increasing growth of the Charismatic or Pentecostal churches.
In Finland, the many emerging Pentecostal and Charismatic churches are dominated by Ghanaian and other African migrants or people who identify with their African roots.
Many Ghanaian migrants count on their faith and religious convictions and experiences to understand and explain their social realities, including difficult situations such as sickness and suspicions of witchcraft attacks.
Encounters with Pastors in Ghana
Aside their regular pastors, many members of the Ghanaian Diaspora also consult pastors (or even fetish priests) in Ghana to help them with prayers or incantations for spiritual help and protection.
There are many people who believe in men of God. But, I am sure that if you ask some migrants they will tell you many stories of having paid monies to pastors in Ghana only to realise later that it was not worth putting their trust in those so-called men of God.
Usually, the pastors would ask the migrants themselves or a family member of the migrant to give some money with which to work out a remedy for the problem facing the person in question.
Such so-called men of God can give some outrageous ‘prophecies’ in order to put fear in people and make them pay sums of money.
Desperation or fear of spiritual attacks
It is understandable that when one is faced with hardship or some unfortunate situation such as ill-health or loss of job and other opportunities, you become desperate and may seek help from pastors.
Some people are even of the view that the entrenched belief in spiritual things and supernaturalism, as others may term it, would always make people believe in the claims and activities of even fake pastors, no matter how distasteful
Ignorance
Some people think that there is too much ignorance and many people are simply vulnerable. Some people are of the opinion that ignorance is largely the cause. But the question is, is it all about ignorance? That is, do such bad pastors capitalise on merely the ignorance of the people?
How I wish it would not always be a case of people being simply gullible and following the fake pastors.
Occultism or hypnotism
But some people believe that the fake pastors carry out the bad things not just because the people are ignorant, but because the so-called men of God hypnotise their victims.
It is believed that many such pastors are into occultism and only use the name of God to cover up and deceive others. Otherwise, how else would they succeed in taking huge sums of monies from the victims?
To me, these bad pastors use psychology to hoodwink their unsuspecting adherents. No matter what it is, surely there is the need to prevent the duping activities of bad pastors.
Regulations and education
There is need for regulations to curtail such activities by the bad pastors whose untoward behaviours create distaste in society. Their actions undoubtedly create unpleasant perceptions about even the genuine pastors.
As for members of the Ghanaian Diaspora, I think many would heave a sigh of relief if they can find a way to avoid being swindled by fake pastors or that there are quick avenues for redress.
Some people have even suggested that our chiefs and queens should get involved in any action to check the activities of fake pastors who dupe people.
Finally, I wish the media would also play a key role in educating people. There is need for fearless media people who would probe into the activities of fake pastors rather than giving them attention and propagating the false messages of such so-called men (and women) of God.
Happy New Year to you all! Thank you!
By Dr Perpetual Crentsil,
Ghanaian lecturer,
The University of Helsinki in Finland
Features
Preventing the brain’s melting point with BOS
The human brain is a complex and delicate organ, susceptible to damage from various factors, including extreme temperatures.
The brain’s melting point, also known as the temperature threshold beyond which brain tissue begins to degrade, is a critical concern for individuals seeking to maintain optimal cognitive function.
Fortunately, the Brain Operating System (BOS) offers a revolutionary solution to prevent the brain’s melting point.
Understanding the brain’s melting point
The brain’s melting point refers to the temperature threshold beyond which brain tissue begins to degrade, leading to irreversible damage.
This temperature threshold varies depending on individual factors, such as age, health, and environmental conditions. However, research suggests that the brain’s melting point is approximately 104°F (40°C) to 107°F (42°C).
The role of BOS in preventing the brain’s melting point
BOS, a cutting-edge technology, plays a crucial role in preventing the brain’s melting point. By leveraging advanced neural interfaces and artificial intelligence, BOS monitors and regulates brain temperature, ensuring that it remains within a safe range.
How BOS prevents the brain’s melting point
BOS prevents the brain’s melting point through several mechanisms:
1. Temperature regulation: BOS continuously monitors brain temperature, adjusting neural activity to maintain a stable temperature.
2. Heat dissipation: BOS enhances heat dissipation through increased blood flow and sweating.
3. Neuro protection: BOS protects neurons from heat-induced damage.
Benefits of BOS in preventing the brain’s melting point
The benefits of BOS in preventing the brain’s melting point are numerous:
1. Prevents brain damage: BOS prevents brain damage caused by excessive heat.
2. Maintains cognitive function: BOS ensures optimal cognitive function by maintaining stable brain temperature.
3. Enhances brain resilience: BOS enhances brain resilience to temperature fluctuations.
Real-World applications of BOS
BOS has various real-world applications:
1. High-performance computing: BOS enables high-performance computing by maintaining optimal brain temperature.
2. Medical applications: BOS has medical applications, such as treating heat-related illnesses.
3. Space exploration: BOS is crucial for space exploration, where extreme temperatures pose a significant risk.
Conclusion
BOS is a revolutionary technology that prevents the brain’s melting point, ensuring optimal cognitive function and overall well-being. By leveraging advanced neural interfaces and artificial intelligence, BOS monitors and regulates brain temperature, protecting against heat-related damage.
Glossary:
1. BOS: Brain Operating System.
2. Brain’s melting point: Temperature threshold beyond which brain tissue begins to degrade.
3. Neural interface: Connects human brain with digital devices.
Contact Information
virginvtech@yahoo.com
Additional resources:
1. BOS research: Explore scientific studies.
2. Neural interface resources: Discover books and articles.
3. Brain-computer interface communities: Join online forums.
Future directions
As BOS technology continues to evolve, we can expect:
1. Improved temperature regulation: Enhanced temperature regulation mechanisms.
2. Increased cognitive enhancement: Advanced cognitive enhancement capabilities.
3. Expanded applications: New applications in various fields.
By harnessing the power of BOS, individuals can safeguard their brain health and maintain optimal cognitive function, even in extreme environments.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
Features
Lotto wahala and Tuobodom palaver
In Sikaman lotto is not a game. It is a profession, a noble career which people aspire to. It is the highest paying profession after armed robbery and the most widespread job on this side of the Atlantic.
In places like China, lotto is a disease that has no cure. Once you are infected, no doctor on earth can cure you. May be Kofi Larteh, Ghana’s most celebrated magician, can help ease the symptoms, but no definitive cure will be forthcoming.
Coming back to Sikaman, lotto has been the financial messiah of many. That is how people look after their large families, pay school fees, marry two wives and do their own ‘monkey things.’
If you are very poor and you win a lottery, chances are that you will die before you even collect the money. You’ll die out of excitement or you’ll start day-dreaming in the streets and an articulated truck will hit you.
As such, very heavy wins are not recommended for poor people, lest they get listed too soon in the obituary columns.
The sad story is told of a heavy-duty caterpillar driver who had a very heavy lotto windfall of several millions, his first big win after several years.
CATERPILLAR
He was driving the caterpillar home when he saw his son running towards him, shouting. “All your numbers have dropped! All your numbers have dropped! He could not believe his ears.
All the four numbers he had staked had dropped and his son, who had gone to stake them for him, was himself over-excited. The poor caterpillar man just could not handle the good news. He suddenly stepped on the brakes and the caterpillar jolted him a trifle too violently, throwing him off. He landed right in front of the still moving heavy-duty machine and it crushed him flat.
I don’t think the bloke would have died if he had won a smaller amount. Sometimes too much cash is not good for the health.
Seldom, people get too confident and that can also result in a wake-keeping, like that of a man who used his lifetime savings and borrowed extra money to crack the machine with a two-sure that the compiler must compulsory drop or the world will end.
Even the shadows of the numbers or their counterparts were nowhere near the winning numbers. His shock-absorbers crumbled under the weight of the heavy disappointment. He crashed to the floor and started foaming at the mouth. He was declared dead on arrival at the nearest clinic.
WINDFALL
Recently, there was a countrywide lotto windfall, and in Kumasi it was more than a festival. Most stakers had between ¢30m and ¢40 million on two-sure that the lotto magicians had predicted at least three weeks earlier,
Kejetia chop bars were besieged with overnight millionaires, carrying huge appetites induced by Opeimu Bitters popularly called Opeimu Peters. All the meat and mudfish got sold out within an hour and procurement agents had to double up to restock.
While some were celebrating, others were weeping and gnashing teeth. The problem was that, three weeks beforehand, the two sure numbers were declared by all the lotto sorcerers, dreamers, magicians, tellers and all the self-appointed and self-promoted forecasters.
Everybody including 10-year-olds, who staked and lost. The following week, they were advised to continue staking. The faithful did continue but the faithless stopped. All of them lost. In the third week or so, a good number of confident stakers had lost faith in the two numbers. That was when the number landed.
So the windfall was for only those who had the unshakeable faith in the numbers. See what faith can do? It can move dollars. Don’t waver, so saith the holy scriptures.
The faithless indeed gnashed teeth. The winners on the other hand celebrated with a song that is as controversial as the business of lotto. It is a song played by the group called Nkasei and has something to do with a town in the Brong Ahafo Region called Tuobodom whose capital we hear is Jinijini.
I hear it is a derogatory song and the queen mother of Tuobodom got charged and breathed out electric current during her protest on air. She allegedly ended up demanding a mobile phone from Nkasei so that she could communicate with them to settle the matter peacefully, lest wahala.
Well, the song is rising up the charts and Nkasei are making the dough, but should it be at the expense of a whole townsfolk, their forebears and generations to come?
WATERPROOF
Waterproof, the famous comedian, was allegedly given hefty slaps at the Kumasi rail station by some Frafra jingoists who felt he was deriding their tribe. And Bob Okala had to run with his tail between his legs when he was confronted and realised that slaps were going to be visited on his lean face.
Let’s not use words and lyrics to cause discomfort to others.
This article was first published on Saturday July 9, 2005
