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Celebrate mothers, they are special
Tomorrow, Sunday, May 12, is a day dedicated in honour of mothers and is celebrated in countries throughout the world.
Ghana is not an exception to this wonderful day, as individuals, families and friends use the occasion to express their admiration for their mothers for the wonderful contribution to their lives.
It is in this spirit that multiple award-winning Ghanaian gospel musician, Empress Gifty expressed the need to celebrate mothers for their special roles.
According to her, mothers will always be special because they were instrumental in raising children and societies.
Speaking to The Spectator ahead of this year’s Mother’s Day celebration, the gospel musician said, “What makes Mother’s Day so special for me is that they are very inspirational. They are people we look up to. They go through a lot for our sake and even when we are matured, they would still be there for us.”
According to the ‘Aseda’ hitmaker, her mother, Evangelist Agnes Annan, affectionately called Maame Fante was one person everyone would love to have as a mother.
“So I see Mother’s Day as an opportunity for us to say thank you in a special way to our mothers. It is a moment for us to honour them and let them know how special they are in our lives.”
“My mother had stood in the gap for me on many occasions, which is why I hold her in high esteem. I believe it is same for many others. These women are very dear to our lives,” she said.
Consequently, she asserted that “I wouldn’t have been this successful in my career without my mother’s constant advice, prayers, and guidance.”
“My mother has received a lot of ‘bullets’ for me, it is because of me my mother was divorced, and I told myself, I will never be separated from her and ensure everything that makes a mother happy would be provided,” she revealed
According to her, the significance of Mother’s Day cannot be overemphasised, considering the mothers’ contribution on the lives of their children.
Empress Gifty said it was unfortunate some people attempt to play down on the day’s significance due to one reason or the other but advised all and sundry to use the opportunity to honour every person that has played a motherly role in his or her life before.
She also advised mothers to forgive their children or whoever wronged them to avoid generational curses.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Muslims across the country celebrated this year’s Eid-ul-Adha in a colourful and spiritually uplifting atmosphere under the theme, “A Season of Sacrifice, Solidarity and Spiritual Renewal.”
The celebration brought together Muslims from diverse backgrounds in a remarkable display of faith, unity and cultural heritage.
The occasion was marked by special Eid prayers at various designated grounds, the slaughtering of rams in homes for sharing among family members, friends and the less privileged, as well as musical concerts and recreational activities including horse riding.
Leading the celebration was the Chief Imam, Dr Sheikh Osman Sharubutu.
While the national celebration was held at the Black Star Square where President John Dramani Mahama was the Special Guest of Honour, similar gatherings took place at different centres across the capital and other regions of the country.
A visit by The Spectator to some celebration grounds revealed Muslims, both young and old, elegantly dressed in colourful jalabiya and other Islamic attire, reflecting the rich culture and traditions of the Muslim community.
The celebration also portrayed the spirit of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the country, as a number of Christians joined their Muslim counterparts to mark the occasion.
Muslim leaders and government officials used the opportunity to call on the faithful to uphold the teachings of the Holy Quran, renew their spiritual commitment and refrain from acts capable of undermining the peace, unity and security of the nation.
They further urged Ghanaians to continue to live in harmony and support one another for national development.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Dear Obaa Yaa,
During Eid-ul- Adha celebration, I decided to spend the weekend at my boyfriend’s place since we were planning towards our marriage.
To my surprise, what keeps me wide awake, restless and frustrated every single time is that he snores loudly like a generator running on full power, and I genuinely cannot get any rest
At a point, I thought it was just a normal thing, but I have realised it is something he does with ease and doesn’t see anything wrong with it.
When he steps out in the morning, I try to get enough sleep because I may not sleep in the evening.
The most annoying thing is that, he always wants to cuddle me. These two things are a no for me and a red flag.
We are about to get married, what should I do?
Enam, Keta.
Dear Enam,
The snoring and constant cuddling are frustrating, but you don’t have to choose between sleep and closeness.
Start with the snoring: check if it’s worse when he sleeps on his back, cut out alcohol before bed, try nasal strips or a humidifier, and see a doctor if he pauses while breathing.
For quick relief, foam earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones help a lot.
Separate blankets, a bigger bed, or sleeping apart on some nights often makes couples rest well and feel closer overall.
Bring this up before the wedding .Tell him you want to wake up next to him for years to come, but sleep deprivation makes you both miserable.
Test earplugs and side-sleeping this weekend, and if it’s still unbearable, bring in a doctor. Good sleep matters more for your marriage than staying glued together all night.
