Editorial
Val’s Day not for immoral activities
VALENTINE’S Day (Val’s Day) is here again! It is a day meant for celebrating pure love, affection, compassion and friendship.
The Day is named after Saint Valentine, a priest who, according to legend, secretly married couples in Rome against Emperor Claudius II’s orders, which forbade marriage for young men to improve their soldiering skills.
Historically, it is tied to romantic love, as Saint Valentine stood for love, commitment and marriage, even at the cost of his life.
However, in modern times some people rather use the day to engage in immoral activities but considering the core perspectives on Valentine’s Day, it should be observed without falling into sexual immorality. Rather, it should encourage individuals to uphold moral standards.
These days the celebrations are often commercialised with all sorts of arrangements to buy expensive gifts for friends and loved ones.
Until recently, many individuals, groups and organisations have redefined Val’s Day which is viewed as an opportunity to show love to the needy, orphans, or friends, rather than solely focusing on romantic or sexual partner, with some suggesting that true love does not require sexual activity.
Some groups, including certain Christian denominations even frown on the celebration of Val’s Day as to them the pressure to participate can lead to increased cases of unplanned pregnancies, the transmission of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), and the breakdown of relationships.
The Spectator is urging those who celebrate Valentine’s Day to celebrate it in moderation and focus more on expressing care to convey sincere affection to friends, family, and partners.
Since the Day doubles as Chocolate Day, it is even more appropriate to share gifts of chocolate products to friends and loved ones in order to promote Ghana chocolate to boost the industry.
We also propose that Valentine’s Day should be used for acts of kindness, volunteering, helping the poor, or engaging in charitable work to put smiles on the faces of others.
Instead of associating Valentine’s Day with immoral behaviour, physical intimacy or even focusing only on material gifts, individuals can choose to celebrate in ways that align with their personal values and moral principles such as spending quality time with loved ones.
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
