News
Preparations towards Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day souvenirs and other items for the occasion was quite low when The Spectator visited Accra Central and Kaneshie Markets.
Meanwhile at Tesano other gift shops had displayed a number of gift hampers for customers to purchase for their lovers.
The display of latest trends of women and men clothing, shoes and accessories were on display as well.
A number of customers were seen stocking their basket with gifts at some of the shops visited ahead of February 14.
Some traders who spoke off record said sales had been poor since the beginning of the year, and will not be surprised if the same thing happens on Valentine’s Day.
“I didn’t want to take that risk at all because things are hard and people are not willing to spend on Valentine’s Day,” a shop owner disclosed.
Regardless of the less colourful preparations for the occasion, the season is also getting its common feature of gifts ranging from perfumes, chocolates, wine, and cards, among others.
“People don’t appear to be interested in the teddy bears and other hampers they have wrapped for the celebration because when you tell them the price, they just walk away or buy toffees, chocolate and go,” some traders added.
“The system is already hard and there is no money. Some of us would be working on Wednesday so Valentine doesn’t really excite us.”
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
News
Mahama scales down celebration of independence anniversary
President John Dramani Mahama has suspended the rotational celebration of the Independence Anniversary across various regions to save cost.
The president has also directed the National Planning Committee to revise the programme of activities for the national celebration in Accra to scale down the scope of the celebration and reduce the amount of money spent annually.
Addressing a press conference, Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said the government in 2024 spent almost fifteen million Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 15,000,000) on the celebration in Koforidua.
“For that reason, he has decided that this year’s celebration will not take on the spectacular form that we have been used to over the years. Rather than a major event at the Independence Square, where there are contingents of men from the various security agencies and hundreds of schoolchildren, there will be a scaled-down commemoration at the forecourt of the Presidency,” the Minister said.
PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON 68TH INDEPENDENCE DAY COMMEMORATION
1. There’ll be a scaled-down commemoration of this year’s commemoration at the National & District Levels ONLY.
2. There’ll be no commemoration at the Regional Level.
3. The scaled-down National Celebration will take place at the forecourt of the Presidency.
4. There will be no parade or match past of security agencies and school children during the National Celebration.
5. The Regional Ministers are to ensure that MMDAs scale down the commemoration in their Districts.
6. Other activities approved by the President are the 28th February Crossroads Shooting Incident and the President’s Special Awards for Children.
REVISED ACTIVITIES FOR THE NATIONAL CELEBRATION
1. Mounting of a Guard of Honour by the Security Agencies
2. Cultural Performances & Recitals
3. National Address by the President and Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.
News
EC to re-run Council of State Elections in North East and Ashanti Regions
The Electoral Commission (EC) is set to re-run Council of State Elections in North East and Ashanti Regions.
In a press statement issued yesterday, they stated that “The Electoral Commission wishes to inform the General Public that, the Council
ofState Elections in two regions, namely North East and Ashanti, willbe re-run on
Monday, 17th of February, 2025.”
According to them, this is because there was a tie in the Election in the North East Region.
The top two candidates each had six (6) votes. As such, the Election has to be re-run.
However, in the Ashanti Region, the Election was disrupted by thugs and could therefore not be concluded.
The Commission has therefore written to the Ghana Police Service and copied the National Election Security Taskforce to heighten security at the venues of the elections to prevent any disruptions.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
