Features
X-mas: Prudent expenditure needed
One of the glorious events that has captured and attracted the minds of many people, both Christians and non- Christians, is Christmas which signifies the birth of Christ who descended from his Father in heaven to this earth to suffer and save men and women in the world.
There are some non-Christians who even celebrate Christmas in a special way more than Christians themselves. This is good because it shows that irrespective of our religious beliefs, there is always the need to recognise that there is someone who came unto the world to save mankind.
REFLECT ON CHRIST
Christmas is a period to reflect on Christ not just about His birth but about His entire life on this earth and how He preached the good news to turn away people from their sinful life in order to live good lives and to bring quality life as deserved by all men and women created in the image of God.
Throughout the world, people celebrate Christmas in various ways. Indeed, Christmas serves as an occasion in which people send messages of joy to friends and relations everywhere.
NORM OF CELEBRATION
Apart from church services, people celebrate the occasion with their families as well as friends or even non-friends in the neighbourhood. This has become the norm of celebration in the world.
As part of the celebration, a lot of attention is focused on the preparation of special meals for visitors who may come and visit us at home. Sometimes, friends and relations visit places of interest such as the beaches and other interesting sites as part of their excursion to various parts of the country.
While it becomes necessary for certain people to embark upon travelling expedition, inside or outside the country, many a time, people prefer to spend Christmas in their home country or towns. Whatever it is, some high expenditure is incurred as a result of travel or visits to places of interest.
SPECIAL MEALS
At the same time, it is interesting to note that special meals are prepared to serve visitors and to make them happy.
This is not to say that it is only during Christmas that special preparations are made and expenses incurred to make people happy and to let them feel special during this occasion.
TOUGH TIMES
With the COVID and the Russia-Ukraine war, many parts of the world have been greatly infected with problems that have made people uncomfortable particularly with regard to our social and economic life.
Parents are finding it very difficult to finance the health needs of their family members as well as their own children. In other words, economic life has become very difficult, tough and unbearable in the world today.
There are many people who find it very difficult to make ends meet. They include people in both developed and developing countries.
DEVELOPED WORLD
In the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, France and other parts of the developed world, life is not easy and there are times when commodities considered precious are rationed among consumers.
It is also important to note that people sometimes travel long distances to buy fuel so as to be able to move their vehicles to places that they may need to go. In Mexico for example, we are told that people drive all the way to border areas with the US to buy fuel at cheaper prices.
What this means is that all over the world, things have become unbearable. There are many people who even think that probably the events of today signify the end of the world even though this may not be the case because in times past, many similar difficult situations had been encountered.
GERMAN EXPERIENCE
During the 1st and the 2nd World Wars for example, the entire globe at the time experienced terrible growth. One country that suffered terribly during the 2nd world war was Germany. In Germany at that time, inflation was far higher than what is being experienced in Ghana today.
The money in Germany lost its value to the extent that people had to carry huge sums of money in their bags to be able to buy certain products including basic necessities. It was simply very difficult to even come across basic needs of life so conditions at that period became more difficult than is being experienced in Ghana and many other African countries including the very terrible economic conditions being encountered in certain parts of the world.
LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES
When these conditions emerge, it becomes necessary for every person to keep his or her financial resources well and put them to the best economic use. In other words, needless things ought to be overlooked by way of expenditure. It is only essential products, including basic medicines that ought to be bought whenever necessary.
It is often said that we have every opportunity to do whatever we like in this world yet only the essential and needful ought to be undertaken by way of expenditure. If this is done, it will go a long way to help reserve our limited financial resources so that we can survive the present financial conditions and overcome the challenges we are facing today.
This is achievable. If this is the case, then we need to work rigidly and assiduously towards achieving this goal to make life better for us all.
MEASURED EXPENDITURE
In view of the economic difficulties being encountered in the country, other African countries and also the rest of the world, it has become necessary for every person to become very circumspect when it comes to expenditure on goods and services so as to be able to preserve some financial resources for the family.
Measured expenditure is what is needed today. Unmeasured expenditure in times of plenty or abundance should be made to wait until we see great improvement in our economic conditions.
What is important in these difficult times, is to avoid unnecessary expenditure and only undertake expenditures that are necessary. Some of the expenditures that are necessary are those we cannot do without such as medicine, food and shelter as well as clothing.
PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE
When it comes to basic medicine, we cannot look on when people are sick so we will have to cough out money to cater for those who are sick.
Medical care is expensive so it is important for us to practise preventive healthcare.
Preventive healthcare is where we make special efforts to prevent sicknesses from coming our way in order to stay healthy throughout the period. If we observe basic personal hygiene and keep our surroundings clean, we can be healthy and prevent diseases from attacking us. Choked gutters ought to be desilted. Again, the water we drink must also be clean so that infection of diseases cannot be possible in our lives.
Other preventive health measures ought to be observed so that we will not throw away money on diseases that can be prevented.
HEALTHY BALANCED DIET
One other way of staying healthy is by having enough rest at all times and also eating good food. Eating good food does not necessarily mean eating expensive food. What it means is that we need to go by healthy balanced diet such as gari, beans and fried plantain and some of our delicious local meals that are not expensive.
It is some of these local meals that help us to stay healthy. We also need to avoid excessive sugar, salt, and fat and oil. If we are able to keep away from these things, we will stay healthy and avoid using the little money we have for medical care.
AVOID EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL INTAKE
Again, it is important to avoid any other thing that can make us sick such as excessive intake of alcohol. Excessive alcohol may result in destroying certain organs in the body such as the kidney, the heart and other internal organs.
It is generally known that we need to meet our basic necessities of life. These basic necessities are food, clothing and shelter.
With regard to food, the point has already been made that we need not necessarily eat expensive foods that may not even be healthy. Rather, what we need is healthy balanced food to make us strong and healthy, keeping us away from falling sick.
LOOK DECENT
In the case of clothing, we need to be content with what we already have. We must avoid the purchase of expensive clothing in order to impress upon friends and neighbours during this Xmas season. The important thing is to look decent in your clothes but not to buy expensive clothes to mark the occasion.
Another basic necessity of life is shelter. We must learn to live in simple houses and put in simple furniture and other items that may be needed in the house.
MODERATION
Cars are good because they serve useful purpose but we need to go in for simple ones that do not consume too much fuel especially at this time when fuel prices are very expensive all over the world. Here in Ghana, it is not very easy to buy fuel regularly for our vehicles.
For this reason, when it becomes necessary, we may need to park our vehicles whenever necessary and walk some distances in our neighbourhood. We may have to join public transport such as buses and other commercial vehicles so that our cost of living can be minimised.
These are measures that can be taken by ourselves, without any compulsion, so as to be able to save some money for ourselves.
We need to do all these to make our Christmas celebration more meaningful to show to the world that we make judicious use of the little resources we have to make ourselves happy. This is how we can celebrate Christmas in a simple way.
Email address/whatsApp number of author:
Pradmat201@gmail.com (0553318911
By Dr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
Three days into her work with us, Kwakyewaa became an indispensable member of our team, and our contractors were very pleased with her. She gave them advice on the placement of electrical fittings.
She also contacted a couple of paint specialists and, after joining them to test their quality, we chose their products, which saved me a very substantial amount. On the evening of the third day I drove her home’.
‘Kwakyewaa, we have been so busy we haven’t had the chance to chat’.
‘Yes indeed. I have been hoping we could talk. But why don’t you have your say first’.
‘Okay. The first thing I would like to say is actually a question, and I hope you don’t mind my asking’.
‘Certainly not. Please go ahead’.
‘Well, I, I am really enjoying working with you. You have done quite a lot for us, and I really appreciate that. But I mean that on the personal level, I like being with you, and I wish, er ………….’
‘I like being with you too, apart from the fact that I respect what you are doing, and I wish I could do this on a regular basis. But what about the fact of your relationship with Abena? Even though your relationship is practically over, would it not look funny that within a short time of ending the relationship you quickly grab her cousin?’
‘She’s your cousin, not your sister. And she’s already started a new relationship. Moreover, she doesn’t have any respect for me. You’ve heard the disparaging things she’s being saying about me’.
‘She’s obviously being influenced by Jennifer, but I would have thought that she would at least reflect a little before believing them’.
‘You went to Tech, so you know that this type of thing is common, even though it’s boys who indulge in it. It’s called ‘Takashi’. If you want a girl and you are not confident of winning her normally, you tell her false stories about the guy she’s going out with. Most of the time it doesn’t work, but in this case it has worked. It’s almost funny’. I stopped in front of her home, and just as I was driving off Esaaba called me.
‘David, Mom would like a word with you’. So I locked the car and went in with them.
‘My son David. I learned yesterday that you and Abena have ended your relationship. I wasn’t pleased to hear it, because you know that I have come to regard you as my son. I heard Esaaba and Abena arguing, and when I asked them they said it was due to her decision to stop seeing you. Abena is adamant that she will not change her decision, and in fact she has started going out with another person. So what can I say? I’m glad that you have not stopped coming here, because I want to see you here regularly’.
‘Don’t worry at all Mom. I will be very regular here, and you can always call me whenever you need me’. ‘Thank you, my son. Now, the second thing. I hear Kwakyewaa has started helping you at your office. I also hear that in addition to your job with the EU, you have a big company. I really admire you. You are so humble and hardworking’. ‘Mom, let me tell you this. Kwakyewaa has been extremely helpful to us. She has already made a lot of difference in our work. I am really sorry that she will have to return to France in ten days’ time’. ‘
Ah, but I thought you said you will not allow me to go back. Have you changed your mind? I am thinking of staying for a while’,
‘Ei, Kwakyewaa!’ Esaaba said. ‘What will your parents say? You want to stay for how long?’
‘Mom’, my parents are in London, and I have been in France on my own for two years. I believe that what I’m doing with Bernard is really useful. I’m not even thinking about money. I will stay for a month or two, maybe even three’.
‘Let me correct you there. You will not work for us for one day without being paid. Now, tomorrow, I will take you to my other site, and show you what we are doing there. Then you can take a good decision. For now, Mom, we have something to discuss. Goodnight’.
‘Okay madam Kwakyewaa’, I said as we walked to my car, ‘will you give me a chance? I have really developed feelings for you, and I believe we can get along together. I can assure you that I have nothing to hide, and ……………’
‘You don’t need to talk much. I accept. Unconditionally. Let’s go and take a look at the site tomorrow’.
She called me fifteen minutes after I left their house.
‘David, I’ve told Esaaba. She’s very surprised, and very excited. So it’s official now. She wants to talk with you.
‘Bernard, do you know how I will call what you’ve just done? It’s a smooth transfer, within the same family. Congrats, I’m happy for you’.
These legal provisions strongly resonate with Islamic teachings on the protection of the vulnerable, particularly children and victims of abuse.
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) emphatically condemned all forms of exploitation and injustice. He said: “Allah will be against three persons on the Day of Resurrection… one who sells a free person and consumes his price” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī). This Hadith directly condemns practices akin to human trafficking, where individuals are commodified for profit.
Additionally, the Prophet (pbuh) stated: “Whoever does not show mercy to our young ones… is not one of us” (Tirmidhī), underscoring the obligation to protect children from harm. These teachings reinforce that exploitation, abuse, and coercion are grave sins in Islam.
Synthesis
While Ghana’s legal frameworks are robust and aligned with both international standards and Islamic ethical principles, the implementation gap remains the primary challenge. Bridging this gap requires not only strengthening legal enforcement but also integrating ethical, religious, and community-based mobilization to reshape societal attitudes and enhance vigilance against trafficking.
The Strategic Role of Religious Leadership
Religious leaders occupy a uniquely influential position within society, functioning not only as spiritual guides but also as custodians of moral order and social cohesion. They command significant social capital, derived from deep-rooted trust, legitimacy, and continuous engagement with community members. In many contexts, they are perceived as intermediaries between the divine and humanity, entrusted with overseeing critical life events such as childbirth, marriage, burial rites, and conflict resolution. This positions them as indispensable actors in shaping both private conduct and public morality.
Theoretical Significance
Within Islamic sociology, religious leaders act as norm entrepreneurs, shaping:
• Moral consciousness by interpreting religious texts in contemporary contexts
• Social norms by defining acceptable and unacceptable behaviour
• Behavioural compliance through moral persuasion and spiritual accountability
Their authority extends beyond ritual functions to influencing socio-political attitudes, making them key agents in combating systemic injustices such as human trafficking.
Why religious leaders are vital in combating human trafficking
Trust and Legitimacy: Communities are more likely to accept guidance from religious leaders than from state institutions alone.
Grassroots Reach: Regular gatherings (e.g., Friday prayers, naming ceremonies, officiating marriages and burial services) provide direct access to large audiences. Religious leaders have access to the entire communities through the roles they play in societies.
Moral Framing: They can redefine trafficking not just as a crime, but as a grave sin (ḥarām), thereby strengthening deterrence.
Cultural Influence: They shape attitudes toward family decisions, migration, and child welfare key entry points for traffickers.
Conflict Mediation Role: Their involvement in family and communal disputes enables early detection of vulnerability and exploitation risks.
Practical Interventions
Normative Reframing
Clearly articulate human trafficking as a severe violation of Islamic principles, emphasizing accountability before Allah.
Sermonic Advocacy (Khutbahs)
Institutionalize anti-trafficking education within sermons, linking scriptural teachings to contemporary realities.
Community Surveillance and Early Warning Systems
Encourage congregants to report suspicious movements or deceptive recruitment practices, fostering collective vigilance.
Imamship Counselling and Family Guidance
Imams provide advisory support to families, particularly in rural areas, to resist false promises of employment or education.
Intersectoral Collaboration
Build partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations such as the International Justice Mission to align moral advocacy with legal enforcement.
Victim Reintegration Support
Facilitate stigma reduction and social reintegration of survivors through compassionate community engagement.
In sum, religious leaders are not merely passive moral voices but strategic actors in social transformation. Their integration into anti-trafficking efforts bridges the gap between law and lived reality, ensuring that legal prohibitions are reinforced by moral conviction and community action.
Ethical Foundations (Conceptual Analysis)
Religious interventions against human trafficking must be firmly grounded in the theological and ethical attributes of Allah, which serve as the ultimate source of moral guidance in Islam. These divine attributes are not merely abstract concepts but functional principles that shape human conduct and social responsibility.
• Al-‘Adl (The Just)
Allah is perfectly just, and His justice (‘adl) denotes absolute fairness, balance, and the uncompromising rejection of oppression (ẓulm). In practical terms, this attribute obligates believers especially religious leaders to actively confront injustice in all its forms. Humantrafficking, which thrives on exploitation, coercion, and inequality, stands in direct opposition to divine justice. Grounding interventions in Al-‘Adl therefore requires advocating for accountability, supporting legal enforcement, and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice while victims receive their rightful protection.
• Ar-Raḥmān (The Universally Merciful)
Allah’s mercy (raḥmah) encompasses all creation, reflecting compassion, care, and benevolence without limitation. This attribute establishes an ethical imperative to respond to victims of trafficking with empathy, dignity, and restorative support. Religious leaders, drawing from Ar- Raḥmān, are called to prioritize healing, rehabilitation, and reintegration, ensuring that survivors are not stigmatized but rather supported in rebuilding their lives. Mercy here extends beyond charity to structured compassion that restores human dignity.
• Al-Ḥafīẓ (The Preserver and Protector)
Allah as Al-Ḥafīẓ signifies ultimate guardianship, preservation, and protection over all beings. This attribute places a collective responsibility on society to safeguard the vulnerable particularly
Women, children, and marginalized groups who are most at risk of trafficking. For religious leaders, embodying this attribute involves proactive vigilance, community education, and the establishment of protective mechanisms that prevent exploitation before it occurs.
Synthesis
When religious leadership is anchored in these divine attributes, it transcends passive moral instruction and evolves into active ethical stewardship. Justice demands resistance to exploitation, mercy ensures compassionate care for victims, and protection mandates preventive action.
Together, these principles transform religious leaders into powerful agents of social justice, capable of mobilizing communities toward the eradication of human trafficking.
Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah and Human Trafficking (Conceptual Analysis)
What is Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah?
Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah refers to the higher objectives and overarching purposes of Islamic law,which are fundamentally designed to secure human welfare (maṣlaḥah) and prevent harm (mafsadah). Rather than focusing solely on legal rules, this framework emphasizes the ethical spirit and societal outcomes of Sharīʿah.
Classical scholars such as al-Ghazālī and al-Shāṭibīsystematized these objectives into five universal protections: religion (dīn), life (nafs), intellect(‘aql), lineage (nasl), and wealth (māl). These are regarded as essential necessities (ḍarūriyyāt) forthe preservation of a just and functional society (Shinkafi & Ali, 2017; Malik, 2015).
Importantly, Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah provides a dynamic and policy-relevant framework, enabling Islamic law to address contemporary challenges such as human trafficking by prioritizing justice, dignity, and human flourishing.
