Features
Ulla Alanko’s special love for Ghana and Ghanaian community in Finland
UUlla (left), with the then Ghana’s Ambassador to Denmark, H. E. Amerley Ollennu Awua-Asamoa. Picture by Kwame Afreh
Today, I share with readers something interesting about Ms. Ulla Alanko, the former Honorary Consul of Ghana in Helsinki. Ms. Alanko is currently retired and is thus an Honorary Consul Emerita.
What I share here is largely about the love this great Finnish woman has for Ghana and the immense support she has been giving in diverse ways to Ghanaian migrants in Finland.
Most Ghanaian migrants here look to her as a mother figure and affectionately refer to her simply as Ulla.
Honorary Consul
The official appointment of Ms. Ulla Alanko as the Honorary Consul was signed on December 29, 2006, by the then Foreign Minister, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who is currently the President of Ghana. Her work as Honorary Consul formally started in 2007.
Before then, Ulla had been working closely with the then Consul General, Mr. DaudaToure, as Ulla explained to me in a communication in early 2020, just before my term ended as the President of the Ghana Union of Finland.
When Mr. DaudaToure unexpectedly died in 2002, the task thus fell on Ms. Alanko to step in and help serve Ghanaians in Finland. She followed in the late Toure’s footsteps to develop cooperation between Ghana and Finland.
The job also included working closely with Ghana’s Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, at that time (in 2018, Finland came under the Ghana Embassy in Oslo, Norway). There are also levels of cooperation between different universities in Finland and those in Ghana, business and investment possibilities, as well as visits to Ghana by staff from Ministries in Finland and from Ghana to Finland.
Ulla has worked in many institutions, for example, the University Hospital in Helsinki (Administration). Her last work experience was at the City of Helsinki Administration, where she was the Senior Planning Officer from 1989 until 2014, when she retired.
Her visits to Ghana
Ulla first visited Ghana in 1995 and, from then on, engaged in many activities in Ghana for about a year.
She saw the cooperation with the Accra City administration and the Trades Union Congress, something that had been on the Honorary Consul’s agenda since the year 1995.
The Ghana Consulate started cooperation with the Ghana Trade Union Congress, where it worked closely with the General Secretary, Mr. Christian Appiah-Agyei, and also with Mr. Kwasi Adu Amankwah, Mr. Kofi Asamoah and Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah.
Cooperation projects
In 2002, 2003, and 2005, the Honorary Con sulate started cooperation projects with the Trade Union Congress in Ghana. The projects were in cooperation with the Trade Union Solidarity Centre in Finland, for example, on repairing and consulting with the Ghana Trade Union Congress and others. A Finnish group of experts also worked together with their Ghanaian counterparts in the Ghana Trade Union Congress. The Finnish group was made up of 20 members of the Trade Union who had different working experiences from various parts of Finland.
The programmes focused on education, safety at work, working conditions, women in working life, etc. The cooperation programmes between Ghana and Finland have continued over the years.
The cooperation was successful, and on June 1, 2010, the Trade Union Solidarity Centre in Finland opened its office in Accra, the second in Africa. Unfortunately, the office is now temporarily closed.
In 2008, the then President of Finland, Mrs. Tarja Halonen, was one of the main speakers at the four-day UNCTAD- Congress in Accra, which Ms. Alanko attended too, from April 20–23. Later, Ulla, as the Honorary Consul of Ghana in Helsinki, arranged a visit to the Ghana Trades Union Congress on behalf of President Halonen to fulfill her wish to strengthen cooperation between Finland and Ghana.
President Halonen had been working as a lawyer in the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions before she became the first female P resident in Finland, from 2000 to 2012. The meeting in Accra gave hope about the possibility of strengthening the relationship between Ghana and Finland, as well as between the Trade Unions of both countries.
The Honorary Consul position is also a nominated member of the Consul Corps Board in Finland, from the 196 foreign consulates in Finland.
Retirement and Honour
Ulla retired from active work as an Honorary Consul in early 2020. In a speech at a send-off event for her, Ulla thanked the Ghana State, the Ghana Embassy in Copenhagen and the Ghanaian community in Finland for the “valuable possibility to work for the Ghana State and for their people in both countries”.
At the time, there were over 1,700 Ghanaians living in Finland. Ulla served the many people who approached her to help solve their immigration and other problems. “The work with Ghanaians and with Ghana Union Finland has always been very close and intense,” Ulla often said.
In 2018, the Ghana Union Finland honoured Ulla in recognition of her work. A citation presented to her read thus: “For so many years now, you have been of immense help to Ghanaian immigrants in Finland. Your friendship and great love for Ghana and Ghanaian immigrants in Finland are obvious for all to see.
“We acknowledge your selflessness, passion and dedication to the Union, and feel privileged to be associated with you. The Ghana Union Finland cherishes your zeal and enthusiasm to help and actively participate in activities involving the Ghanaian immigrant community in Finland. Your strong support for a solid Ghana-Finland relationship is a shining example for us all. Thank you”.
By Perpetual Crentsil
[The writer lectures at the
University of Helsinki in Finland]
Email: perpetualcrentsil@yahoo.com
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
