Harmattan can't deter us from celebrating Xmas — Bolga residents declare By: Benjamin Xornam Glover / Daily Graphic / Ghana | Tuesday, 24 December 2013

Since time immemorial, Christmas has been the season of spreading good cheer, of spending time with family and of sharing, caring and giving and this year is no different at least in the Upper East Region. For some people in Bolgatanga, the regional capital, the severe harmattan weather condition cannot affect the way they celebrate this festive season. A visit to various sections of the Bolgatanga main market on Monday, which happens to be a market day ahead of Christmas day, saw a large number of people who had converged to trade and shop in items ranging from clothing, footwear, xmas decorations, foodstuff, livestock, poultry products, assorted alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, among others. Patronage of items such as guinea fowls, either fresh or processed, were in high demand and the traditional hand-made fugu (smock) were all enjoying good sales forcing prices to double and in some cases triple. A tour of the market revealed that a live guinea fowl, a local delicacy, is sold for between GH ¢15 and GH¢ 25 while a sheep and a goat are sold between GH¢70 and GH¢150 respectively depending on the size. A bowl (olonka) of locally produced rice sells between GH¢5 and GH¢7, depending on the grade of rice. A smock manufacturer, who gave his name only as Salifu, indicated that depending on the size and quality of material used, a smock might cost between GH¢60 or GH¢150 adding that sales had not been bad at all. Transportation The Christmas season comes with a lot of travelling and this year is no exception. Most public sector workers resident in the region were spotted travelling to their hometowns for the Christmas holidays. At the O.A.Travel and Tours bus station, officials at the terminal told the Daily Graphic that since Wednesday December 19, all services to places such as Accra in the Greater Accra Region and Kumasi in the Ashanti Region have been recording full bookings, adding that the situation had persisted throughout the weekend leading to Christmas day. The situation is no different at the main GPRTU terminal as many passengers were spotted trying to board buses to their hometowns. Officials at the Metro Mass Transit station said they would be running services throughout the holiday period in order to make it possible for people to join their families for the holiday season. At the Intercity STC bus terminal, a notice pasted with regards to the Christmas and New Year operational programme indicated that there would be normal service on all routes on Tuesday, December 24, 2013 for Domestic Bus Service. The company will, however not work on Christmas day but will resume transport service on Boxing Day. The notice, however urged regional and station managers to confer among themselves on changes that might suit the period and make amendments where necessary. Religious leaders The reason for the season is Jesus Christ. The Christian community and the Regional Coordinating Council held a festival of nine lessons and carols at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Catholic Church where choirs of various churches in the regional capital ushered their flock into the Christmas mood. Religious leaders in the region also seized the opportunity to advise people of the region and Ghanaians in general to be optimistic of the future because Ghana had a bright future and that the involvement of every Ghanaian and friends of Ghana was needed to move the nation forward. In separate interactions with various religious leaders in the region, they were hopeful that 2014 would be brighter than 2013. The Chairperson of Upper Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Esmond W. Nagba, said Christmas should be a time of sober reflections adding that Christians must use the period to renew and rededicate their lives to God via the preaching of the gospel’s message of peace and reconciliation. He said the Christmas period must also be a time for people to share love with their neighbours and resolve to be more devoted to God. Rev. Nagba said there was work to be done by all Ghanaians especially Christians who found themselves in leadership stressing that Ghana is looking for a leadership of truth, one that does not compromise and is ready to expose wrongdoing in society. He bemoaned the level of political polarisation permeating the Ghanaian society and prayed that the season will lead to unity. “Let’s eschew all forms of tendencies that will polarise this nation for development to thrive,” Rev. Nagba said. The Bolgatanga District Overseer of the Evangelical Church of Ghana, (ECG), Rev. Samuel Apeligeba advised Christians to come out of their spiritual captivity and slavery during this Christmas season. In an earlier sermon, Rev Apeligeba expressed regret that some Christians had allowed themselves to be driven by worldly things for far too long and said Christmas was the right season for such Christians to seek the face of God for his divine deliverance. Speaking on the theme; “The hope of Christ is coming soon, Rev. Apeligeba also stressed the need for Christians to be mindful of the second coming of Jesus Christ as highlighted in the book of Luke 21:25-33. The Senior Pastor of Fountain Gate Chapel in Bolgatanga, Pastor Eastwood Anaba in his Christmas greetings released on YouTube to friends and partners of the Eastwood Anaba Ministries said although many people were discouraged about many things that might have happened, the grace of God had sustained everyone to this point as we approach the end of the year. He encouraged Christians and the general public to “finish the race, fight the good fight, because in 2014, I believe that the clock will reset and you will make another dash towards your victory” Security The Upper East Regional Minister and Chairman of the Regional Security Council, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru, in a message to the people, wished every citizen the best of the season. He said although the season is characterised with a lot of happiness and reunion, the festivities are normally bedeviled with a lot of security threats in terms of people trying to commit crimes and deprive others of the joy. He gave the assurance that all the necessary security arrangements had been put in place to ensure that people of the region go through the festivities without fear or favour, especially those who will be travelling at night to attend one programme or the other. While assuring all of their security, the regional minister also advised revelers to exercise moderation and be cautious in their celebrations. “We must all be alive to enjoy 2014” he admonished. He appealed to all to cooperate with the police and other security agencies who are out there to ensure the safety of life and property. In the area of development, he conceded that 2013 came with some challenges but was optimistic that with all the groundwork, 2014 will be a prosperous one as a number of developmental projects had been earmarked for implementation in the coming year. http://graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/14735-harmattan-can-t-deter-us-from-celebrating-xmas-bolga-residents-declare.html