The energy and atmosphere that usually characterise the festive season can be felt everywhere, reports Delali Sika & Joselyn Kafui Nyadzi.
The approach of Christmas has a way of revealing what people value most, reflecting the plans they quietly look forward to.
The Daily Graphic spoke to a cross-section of Ghanaians to find out what Christmas means to them and how they plan to celebrate this year’s festivities.
For many, the season evokes cherished childhood memories, deep religious devotion and the joy of reconnecting with loved ones.
Beyond the celebrations, Christmas also represents a period for reflection, planning and setting intentions for the year ahead.
Memories, faith, reflection
Some respondents traced their understanding of Christmas to experiences from childhood, when the season was marked by gifts, new clothes and family bonding.
A trader, Samuel Duah, said those early experiences had shaped his appreciation of Christmas as a time for reconnecting with loved ones.
“We have celebrated it since childhood, when our parents used to buy things for us, sometimes even oversized dresses,” he recalled.
He added that the season had remained a period for visiting friends and relatives and sharing meals to show love.
For Desmond Koomson, a civil servant, Christmas is a time to reflect on the year and be grateful for life.
“I’m not planning anything extravagant. I just want to rest, spend time with my family, and maybe travel to my hometown if things work out,” he said.
Evelyn Mensah, a trader, said Christmas for her was about family and sharing.
“It’s the time we all come together, no matter how difficult the year has been.
“I’ve already started saving small amounts to cook and also buy clothes for the children.
Even if it’s not much, we must feel the Christmas spirit.”
The religious significance of Christmas was also highlighted, with respondents indicating that church activities formed an important part of the celebration.
A trader, Kelvin Williams, explained that Christmas is primarily observed as the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, which accounts for the emphasis on worship during the period.
“The main thing is that it is the birthday of Christ. That is why we go to church and celebrate Christmas,” he said.
He said while adults no longer depended on the season to meet basic needs, Christmas continued to hold special meaning, particularly for children.
Break from stress
Beyond the celebrations, the season is also viewed as a time for reflection and planning.
Eric Asamoah, a student, sees Christmas as a break from stress and schoolwork.
“It’s a time to rest and reflect on the year. I’m not doing anything big, but I plan to spend time with friends and attend church programmes. I’m also helping my parents with preparations at home,” he added.
Juanita Domenyo, a stenographer secretary, said Christmas provided an opportunity to assess the year and prepare for the future.
“It is about spreading love and joy and reflecting on God’s love for us,” she said.
Alphonse Nyadzi, a facilitator and a statistician, explained that Christmas reminded him of humility, sacrificial love, peace and reconciliation.
“Beyond the spiritual meaning, Christmas is also a time for family to remember the less privileged and to strengthen bonds with one another,” he said.
Preparation
She explained that her preparations towards the festivities included taking time off to review the year 2025 and draw up plans for the next one.
Travelling to spend time with family members is another key feature of the preparations.
Mr Duah said he had planned to travel to Kumasi to reunite with his family after a long period apart.
“This is the time for me to meet with them and make plans about the family for next year,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Williams said he had planned to visit his hometown before returning to Accra to focus on his business activities in the new year.
“After visiting my family, I will come back to Accra and continue planning for my business for next year,” he said.
For Mr Nyadzi, his plans for the season included attending church services and celebrating Christ.
“I also plan to spend quality time with family and loved ones, preparing meals, music, and a warm home atmosphere that reflects joy and togetherness. Lastly, setting aside time to rest, give thanks, and reflect on the year gone by,” he said.
Rita Boakye, an entrepreneur, said Christmas was both a spiritual and a business season.
“It reminds me of the birth of Christ, but it’s also a busy period for my work. I’m preparing by stocking my shop and planning how to manage customers.
I also want to spend quality time with my family,” she said.
Ultimately, Christmas, with its laughter, prayers and shared memories, reminds each of us that the season is not only about celebration, but about coming home to loved ones, to reflection and to the promise of tomorrow.
Central Business District
The Central Business District (CBD) in the capital experienced unusually heavy human and vehicular congestion, prompting personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service to intermittently spray water in some areas to save lives and mitigate the effects of the intense heat, reports Dickson Worlanyo Dotse.
The mad rush was a result of largely reduced pricing across products and commodities, including livestock and poultry.
The mad rush was largely driven by significant price reductions across various products and commodities, including livestock and poultry. At the Kantamanto, Agbogbloshie and Mallam markets, prices of livestock and poultry were either maintained or reduced compared to last year, although traders say business remains generally slow.
At Kantamanto, a poultry trader, David Akulga Atinyaa, said the heaviest broilers he bought for GH¢75 last year were now going for GH¢70, though he still sold the big ones for between GH¢85 and GH¢90, the same as last year.
Chaos
Long tailbacks, incessant honking and visibly frustrated motorists have characterised traffic in the capital, with the Graphic Road and Kwame Nkrumah Avenue reduced to a crawl or brought to a complete standstill.
Officers of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service have been busy, directing traffic and attempting to restore law and order in a chaotic situation worsened by the sheer volume of vehicles and pedestrians.
Advantage to exploit
Even in areas where traffic is usually fluid, vehicles were locked bumper to bumper, forcing passengers to abandon their cars and trek long distances to their destinations.
As shoppers grapple with the unpleasant situation, some commercial drivers have cashed in by charging unapproved fares, with reports of Kasoa passengers paying as much as GH¢20 from Accra, nearly twice the normal fare.
Amid the chaos, okada riders seem to be thriving, weaving through traffic as stranded commuters seek quicker alternatives to beat the Christmas gridlock.
Motorists
An Uber driver, Foster Minta, described the situation as overwhelming, saying many drivers now avoid central Accra entirely.
He said traffic had affected fuel consumption and earnings, forcing drivers to reduce the number of trips they accept daily.
An okada rider, Fatawu Mahmoud, said the congestion had been severe but profitable.
He said, though areas such as Makola had become almost impossible to manoeuvre due to overcrowding, commuters who were in a hurry were willing to pay more to avoid traffic, boosting business for okada riders.
A commercial driver, who only identified himself as Joe, said the congestion, though frustrating, was typical of every festive season.
While no driver enjoys being stuck in traffic for hours under the scorching sun, he believed that it was an inconvenience everyone must endure.
With all road users sharing a limited space, he said drivers were forced to reduce trips and manage expectations, accepting the congestion as part of the Christmas experience.
A passenger, Sarfo Osei, recounted a journey from Tantra Hills that underscored the severity of the congestion.
He said a trip that should have taken 20 minutes lasted 42 minutes before he reached Circle, with additional delays between the Achimota Overhead and the Achimota Old Station.
Another passenger, Regina Amorkor, said her trip from Madina to Accra for shopping was chaotic, with both vehicular and human traffic being so overwhelming.
Despite the good news of reduced prices for consumers, many people are still finding it hard to shop around because money is hard to come by, reports Samuel Ohene Ewur.
Some shoppers said they were happy that prices had reduced, though their pockets could not stretch to them.
For traders, low prices do not always mean better business.
Losses from transportation, animal deaths, maintenance costs and slow sales continue to affect them.
As this year’s Christmas peaks, both sellers and buyers are hoping the season will still bring them joy, good sales, and full pots in Ghanaian homes.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
