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Why Valentine is all about Red
• Shops are selling anything red
Valentine’s Day or St. Valentine’s Day is when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts on February 14.
with red
Whether it is pending the evening with someone special or buying them gifts, Valentine’s Day is a celebratory day for many. But the question is why is the colour red associated to the occasion unlike other events such as Christmas (which is red and green)?
Weeks before the celebration, shelves of stores are decorated in red, white, and pink.
Red is usually the colour associated with Valentine’s Day but you rarely see Valentine’s Day decorations with just red. This colour is almost always flanked by pink and white.
One of the simple reasons why red is connected to love (and to St. Valentine’s Day) is the fact that it is the same color of blood and of the heart.
This connection to love is part of why some countries, including China and India, encourage brides to wear red to their weddings. White is traditionally associated with purity and innocence.
On its own, white symbolises purity but its combination with red is significant when it comes to Valentine’s Day, too. The colour combination of red and white is often thought to symbolise unity, which offers another explanation.
Scientists have even deduced that the colour red evokes some of the strongest feelings in us, just by sight. Both men and women are more attractive to the other sex when the colour red is in the picture. So, it is no surprise that the vibrant and intense colour has become a symbol of St. Valentine’s Day.
The history of Valentine’s Day and the story of its patron saint are shrouded in mystery. One legend holds that Valentine was responsible for passing notes between incarcerated Christian lovers and performing marriages between them. Another holds that he became romantically involved with a woman whose sight he had restored, sending her a note signed, “From your Valentine.”
Although the true origin of the holiday remains vague, Valentine’s Day was not celebrated as a day of romance until about the 14th century.
In Ghana, the day is celebrated to promote the consumption of chocolate and other cocoa products among the population. This initiative was spearheaded by the then tourism minister, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey (of blessed memory) in 2007 who announced that Val’s Day would be replaced by the celebration of chocolate.
The idea has caught on with Ghanaians, as many buy chocolates and other cocoa products for their loved ones on February 14, aside red clothing, flowers, teddy bears, and wine.
By Yunusah Essandoh
News
Criminal and Seditious Libel Law was repealed in 2001 yet we still face harassment – NPP
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the government for what it calls a return to the “culture of silence” in Ghana, despite the repeal of the Criminal and Seditious Libel Law more than two decades ago.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the party said the arrest and detention of its Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye, for allegedly insulting the Inspector General of Police (IGP) was the latest sign of political intimidation.
According to the NPP, eight months into President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, state security had been “weaponised” not to fight illegal mining or protect citizens, but to intimidate and punish dissenting voices.
The party said insecurity in areas such as Bawku, Nkwanta and Gbeniyiri in the Savannah Region had claimed more than 32 lives and displaced over 50,000 people, yet the police and national security were more focused on arresting opposition supporters and social media users for their posts.
The NPP noted that Ghana abolished the Criminal and Seditious Libel Law in 2001 under President John Agyekum Kufuor to protect free speech and media freedoms.
It described the recent arrests of opposition members as an erosion of those democratic gains.
The party said it did not condone insults or vulgar language in public discourse but stressed that anyone who felt defamed should seek redress through civil defamation suits, not criminal prosecution.
It also accused the government of undermining the judiciary by “weaponising” it against political opponents, citing the removal of the Chief Justice.
“The growing climate of intimidation and criminalisation of speech is a serious assault on Ghana’s democracy,” the statement signed by NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong said.
The NPP called on all Ghanaians to resist what it described as a return to tyranny and pledged to roll out a series of actions to protect the country’s democratic gains.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
NIA opens Premium Centres to register children
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has started registering Ghanaian children aged between six and 14 years at all its Premium Centres across the country.
The Authority says the exercise is part of its duty to register every Ghanaian, both at home and abroad, so that all citizens can have a secure and verifiable national identity.
It explained in a statement issued today that the registration will help build a complete and inclusive National Identity Register (NIR) that captures every Ghanaian from childhood.
According to the NIA, the fee for first-time registration at Premium Centres is GHS 310, which is the approved charge for premium services.
The Authority said the requirements are the same as for applicants aged 15 years and above.
It affirmed that Parents or legal guardians were required to present either a valid Ghanaian passport of the child, the original copy of the child’s birth certificate, or be a Ghana Card holder who can vouch for the child.
The NIA also announced that from Monday, September 15, 2025, its online registration and booking system will be extended to the remaining 11 Premium Centres nationwide.
This it said will allow parents and guardians to schedule appointments more conveniently and avoid delays at the centres.
It further stated that information on the issuance of Ghana Cards for children aged six to 14 years who had already registered will be shared later.
In the coming weeks, the Authority plans to extend this registration service to all NIA District Offices to make it easier for more people to access the service.
By: Jacob Aggrey
