News
‘Tis the red season: Celebrating love on Valentine’s Day
February is often referred to as the ‘Month of Love,’ a time when couples, friends, and loved ones take the opportunity to celebrate and appreciate one another.
Among the many days in February, Valentine’s Day – February 14 – stands out as the most recognised day for love and affection worldwide. Though it is not an official public holiday, it is widely celebrated in workplaces, schools, churches, and various social gatherings.
From exchanging gifts, planning romantic surprises to making heartfelt gestures, Valentine’s Day serves as a reminder that love is meant to be cherished and expressed in countless ways.
Origins and significance of Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day has deep historical roots dating back to ancient Rome. It is widely believed that the day was named after Saint Valentine, a Roman priest who defied Emperor Claudius II’s ban on marriages and secretly wed young couples. His defiance led to his imprisonment and eventual execution on February 14, around the year 269 AD.
While the origins of the day remain debatable, the tradition of celebrating love on this day gained popularity over centuries.
By the middle ages, it became associated with courtly love, and by the 18th and 19th centuries, handwritten love letters, poetry, and small tokens of affection became customary.
Today, Valentine’s Day is a global celebration marked by expressions of romance, friendship, and appreciation.
Creative ways to celebrate love
For many, chocolates and flowers are the go-to gifts on Valentine’s Day, with some referring to it as ‘Chocolate Day’ due to the overwhelming demand for sweet treats.
However, love can be expressed in many ways than just gifting chocolates.
People now plan elaborate surprises, book romantic getaways, and host intimate dinner dates. Some hire professional event planners to decorate spaces such as hotel rooms, beaches, or private restaurants with stunning red roses, candles, balloons, and soft music to set the mood for a memorable evening.
Others opt for personalised experiences, such as handwritten love letters or poetry for a more sentimental touch, surprise picnics at scenic locations, ‘Do It Yourself’ (DIY) gift boxes filled with personal mementos, perfumes, books, and custom jewelry while others try a few adventure dates, such as boat rides, road trips, or even skydiving for the thrill-seekers.
Even for those who are single, Valentine’s Day offers a chance to celebrate self-love and friendships.
Many individuals host self-care spa days, plan solo trips, or organise “Galentine’s” and “Palentine’s” parties to celebrate friendships and enjoy the day in a unique way.
Business
Valentine’s Day is not just an occasion for lovebirds – it is also a booming season for businesses. Retailers, online vendors, and local markets anticipate increased sales, with thousands of products being marketed as perfect gifts for the occasion.
Some of the most in-demand Valentine’s gifts include flower bouquets, fashion accessories such as handbags, perfumes, jewelry, watches, and shoes, personalised items like engraved bracelets, photo books, and couple’s portraits and themed Valentine’s cakes.
Restaurants and event centres capitalise on the season by offering special Valentine’s Day packages, couples’ dinner discounts, and themed entertainment nights.
For small business owners, the Valentine’s season is an opportunity to maximise profits, market unique products, and offer exclusive deals to attract more customers.
One of the beautiful aspects of Valentine’s Day is that it is not just for couples. It is a time to celebrate all forms of love – romantic, platonic, and familial. Whether it’s expressing gratitude to parents, surprising a close friend, or simply practising self-love, there is always a way to be part of the celebration.
Valentine’s Day is more than just a commercialised event; it is a time to celebrate the essence of love in all its forms. Whether it’s through a heartfelt gift, a simple message, a surprise dinner, or even just quality time, the goal is to make someone feel truly special.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
By Georgina Boadiwaa Ntim
News
Politicising gender-based violence harmful —Dakoa Newman
A Former Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms Dakoa Newman, has called for an end to politicising gen der-based violence.
She said it should be “treated as a national emergency.”
According to her, politicising gender-based violence was harmful, as it distracts and deters women from achieving their political dreams.
“Gender-based violence in politics should not be politicised. If we truly want more women to participate, we must address these issues collectively. Some women are tagged with names such as witches, prostitutes just for contesting for elections.”
She said this during an engagement with non-elected women parliamentary candidates organised by Abantu for Development.
The session was on the theme “Strengthening Activism for a Gender-Responsive Elections 2024 in Ghana.”
The ex-MP for Okaikwei South stated that “Standing for election requires courage and sacrifice. As women, we often give up time with our families, our children, and our personal lives to pursue leadership. Whether you win or not, that effort must be recognised.”
Ms Newman noted that losing an election, while painful, should not mark the end of a political career. “It can be a stepping stone to new opportunities in governance and party leadership,” she added.
Recalling her own experiences during the 2024 elections, she stressed that political violence discourages many women from entering politics.
On financing, she urged partners and stakeholders to go beyond workshops and invest directly in women aspirants. “Financing is the number one barrier. Without resources, women cannot effectively compete. Organisations must support candidates with funding, research, and constituency-specific tools,” she emphasised.
Dr Mensah-Kutin, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Abantu for Development, revealed that 119 women contested in the 2024 parliamentary elections, out of which 78 did not win their seats.
She stressed that their contributions remained important for shaping future advocacy and strengthening women’s representation.
She also noted that although the Affirmative Action Law was passed in 2024, it came too close to the elections to be fully implemented, making platforms such as this engagement critical in pushing for increased participation of women in governance.
She called for full implementation of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121), noting that its 30 per cent quota must be applied strictly across all levels of governance.
The event was supported by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) which seeks to reflect on the experiences of women candidates during the elections.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
News
NDC lied to Ghanaians – Dr. Bawumia states
Flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has chastised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for what he describes as lies and empty promises made to Ghanaians ahead of the 2024 elections.
According to him, the NDC convinced voters with promises they had no intention of keeping, including paying cocoa farmers at least GH₵6,000, repealing laws to fight illegal mining, and creating jobs through a 24-hour economy.
He said it was now evident that those promises were only political gimmicks.
He made these remarks after filing his nomination papers to contest the NPP flagbearer slot at the party’s head office in Accra today.
Dr. Bawumia stressed that the NPP had learnt lessons from the 2024 defeat and would put those lessons to good use as the party prepared for the 2028 elections.
He noted that, unlike the NDC, the NPP had a track record of introducing policies that had positively impacted millions of Ghanaians, citing the Ghana Card, Mobile Money Interoperability and Agenda 111 projects.
The former Vice President urged NPP members to stay united and avoid internal attacks, warning that divisions would only weaken the party.
He emphasized that the NPP’s true opponent was the NDC and not its own members.
By: Jacob Aggrey
