Christmas in the Christiandom is meant to be a sacred period. A season that marks the birth of the Saviour Jesus Christ. It is a moment believers remember the ultimate gift of love from God, who offered his son to the world.
It is a period of reflection, humility, and hope for salvation for Christians. Since time immemorial, churches preach peace, kindness, and generosity, and Christians gather on the day to worship.
The Spiritual Significance
The various Christian tunes from “Joy to the World, “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night,” to “Jingle Bells” point to the importance and significance of the Christ that was born.
Families gather not just to eat, but to reflect, pray, and reconnect. At its heart, Christmas is supposed to be a season of deepening faith, compassion, humility, kindness, and gratitude.
But can this story or the relevance of Christmas be said to hold true in this purest form today? On the streets, in markets, and on highways across Ghana, a different Christmas story is unfolding.
As the period draws to a close, Christmas increasingly feels less like a spiritual season and more like peak business time. Shops are packed, transport fares jump overnight, and prices of basic goods quietly rise, all justified by a familiar phrase: “It’s Christmas.”
The Booming Business Side
For many traders and businesses, the season is an opportunity to cash in on surging demand, even through fair or foul means. Rice, cooking oil, poultry, drinks, and clothes flood the markets, with a creep in their prices.
Some sellers argue their costs have gone up, and consumers complain that price hikes are sometimes driven more by opportunity than necessity.
Transport has become one of the clearest examples. Commercial drivers, aware that many people are desperate to travel to the commercial centres to shop, as others travel home to celebrate with family, have been caught charging illegal fares far above approved rates.
This year, the practice drew the attention of authorities, leading to government intervention through the supply of some state buses to help save commuters the stress of the congestion and exploitation.
In some parts of the country, authorities have caused the arrests of some drivers accused of exploiting passengers.
This was to drive home the warning that Christmas should not become an excuse for lawlessness.
The surge in demand has also pushed businesses to increase supply, sometimes aggressively. Warehouses are stocked, shelves are filled, and advertisements promise “Christmas promos.” But discounts often feel cosmetic, while real prices creep up quietly.
Concerned by the trend, the Minister for Trade and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, had to step in with a public appeal, urging traders not to take advantage of consumers during the festive period.
The call was not just about prices, but about fairness and conscience, reminding businesses that profit should not come at the cost of hardship for ordinary people.
The Irony
For a country with over 70% Christian population, Christmas is supposed to mimic the love, kindness, humility, compassion, and celebrate generosity, yet many consumers experience it as a season of pressure and exploitation.
Parents stretch already thin budgets to meet expectations. Travellers endure overcrowded buses and inflated fares. Workers worry about January debts long before December ends.
Though none of this means Christmas has lost its meaning entirely, as churches will still be full, the Christmas carols still ring out, and families still share moments of warmth, the balance appears to be shifting, with commerce often drowning out the religious significance of the season.
The Bottomline
As the country marks 2025 Christmas Day today, the question lingers: can Christmas reclaim the spirit of the season without denying businesses the chance to thrive? Or will Christmas continue to drift further from the manger and closer to the marketplace?
Perhaps the answer lies in remembering that while Christmas may boost sales, its true value was never meant to be counted in cedis, but in kindness, fairness, and shared humanity.
