THE Garden City of West Africa, as the Ashanti regional capital is sometimes referred to, has been a bastion of notable gospel music in Ghana for many years and the Gentle Ministry and Prayer Camp at Atwima Kokoben in Kumasi is making efforts to help sustain the tradition.

The church has instituted a monthly programme called ‘Songs of Praise’ which showcases the singing and compositional abilities of young members. 

A week to Christmas and the world is already undergoing its annual transformation. (Forget WASSCE results for now).

Even here in Ghana—where “winter” is just the harmattan teasing your nostrils—the festive spirit arrives like an eager auntie who shows up too early and immediately rearranges the furniture.

Soon, homes will sparkle with decorations inside and out; tinsel will trail curtains, and front yards will sport inflatable Santas quietly sweating under the tropical sun. 

FRIENDSHIP in marriage creates a space of intimacy where two hearts share their deepest thoughts and feelings.

When you feel accepted and approved as a friend, it becomes easy to open up to each other. You become genuinely interested in your spouse—how he or she feels, what matters to them and what makes them come alive.

With true friendship in marriage, your activities and interests become richer because you share them with your favourite person. You enjoy more of the things you do because of your connection with your loved one. 

In last week’s edition, I tried to remind you that Christmas is approaching and I hope I succeeded in drawing your attention to it.

Now, in this week’s edition, I am going to attempt to answer this question: Christmas is approaTRENDching, and so what? Yes, and so what?

There is a lot, a lot to consider when we hit the festive season, like where we are. 

Dear Mirror Lawyer, l have been married to my husband for about 15 years. The early years of our marriage were very rosy.

However, things changed when my husband began to drink heavily. At first, he would yell at me during disagreements, but over time, his anger turned physical. 

On several occasions, he slapped me during arguments, leaving visible bruises on my fair skin. 

As the year draws to a close, the familiar excitement of Christmas begins to ripple through homes, communities, and entire cities.

For many families, preparing for Christmas is more than a task on the calendar — it is a cherished ritual that brings people together, strengthens bonds, and creates lasting memories. 

Cheating often feels exciting. Taking shortcuts seems sweet and stress-free. Bread eaten in secret can be tempting, especially when it’s stolen.

There is a certain relief in receiving on a silver platter what others struggle to carve out of a stone.

Back in high school, while many burned the midnight oil, some chased leaked examination papers instead. 

Studying seemed burdensome for them. Why thread the eye of a needle when there was a wider backdoor? What mattered most was reaching the destination, no matter the route.

The low condom use among the youth, especially adolescent girls and young women, is posing a serious challenge to efforts to reduce HIV infections in the Volta Region, the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has said.

There are currently 19,078 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Volta Region, representing 5.7 per cent of the total national population of PLHIV of 334,721.

They include 4,999 males above the age of 15 and 12,881 females above 15, in addition to 1,198 children.

As the festive season draws near, one of the most common scams resurfacing involves individuals claiming they have arrived in the country but are unable to access local currency.

Typical explanations include delayed forex, non-functioning bank cards, or funds that have “not yet cleared.”

However, a technology consultant, Mr Derek Laryea, is warning that any genuine person travelling from abroad this season was well prepared and had multiple options of financing emergencies long before they travelled.

Cooking transforms foods, it can make some nutrients more available, and it can destroy others.

For certain vegetables, raw consumption preserves heat-sensitive vitamins, enzymes and bioactive compounds that are reduced or inactivated by common cooking methods. 

A Spanish office worker has been fired for a habit most bosses would normally celebrate - turning up far too early.

The 22-year-old employee had been warned repeatedly since 2023 to stop arriving between 6.45am and 7am, a full 40 minutes before her shift was due to start.

But despite being told she wasn't allowed to clock in or begin work ahead of her 7.30am start time, she kept showing up at dawn with nothing to do.

While driving to work on December 1, 2025, which was a Monday, I had my car radio tuned into a popular radio station here in Accra.

And the hosts engineered my write-up for today with their commentaries! What did they do? Well, they played a Christmas carol. Yes, just that.

But wait a minute. That act brought a lot to me, and I will explain further. The Friday before the referenced Monday, I went home knowing so well that it was the month of November. 

This October, five schools in the Greater Accra Region became hubs of learning, excitement, and lifelong hygiene lessons as Ghandour Cosmetics Ltd., through its hygiene brand, Kleanz, launched a major school activation to commemorate Global Handwashing Day.

Global Handwashing Day is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of hand hygiene in preventing diseases. Each year, organisations -including schools and health agencies- host activities to educate communities about proper handwashing techniques.

Dear Doctor, I am negative, and she is positive, so I had another test, which proved that she did not have sickle cell disease, and so we went ahead and got married.

Can you please explain to me if it is possible to have a child with sickle cell disease?

I read your response last week, but I need to be clear about my situation. I am seriously considering a DNA test. Patiently awaiting your response.

Papa, Accra. 

The holiday season is almost here—a time filled with festivities, laughter and, often, financial strain.

For many Africans, the holidays are synonymous with elaborate celebrations, travelling back to the village and generous gifting to family and friends.

Without a clear plan, the festive season can leave you struggling to make ends meet by January, also known as “the longest month of the year”.

OFTENTIMES in life, we place ourselves above others because we assume we are better than they are and can even live without them.

We behave as though life is a race in which we must emerge first at all costs. It has always been about us.

Indeed, life is a race… but a baton race. We need each other to win. When one person drops the baton, the entire team loses. Our success depends on one another. Whether we reach the top or not largely depends on the people around us. No one can live independently.

The Amasaman Circuit Court has ordered the arrest of 17-year-old herdsman, Alhassan Yunus, after he failed to appear before the court in connection with the theft of five sheep valued at GH¢15,000.

The accused was expected to appear in court on November 30, 2025, but proceedings could not continue as a result of his absence. 

With the rise of vibe coding, more people than ever are spinning up startups overnight. In 2024 alone, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce saw 5.2 million new business applications—a 49 per cent increase since 2019. At the same time, AI tools have dramatically lowered the barrier to entrepreneurship.

A report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce showed that by mid-2025, 58% of U.S. small businesses reported using AI, more than double the share from 2023.

Entrepreneurship is likely one of the most relevant careers of the future, especially as traditional white-collar roles shrink under the very AI systems fueling this boom.

Pupils of the Have Fiakpokorpe M.A. Basic School in the Akatsi South Municipality have received 100 dual desks and a range of learning materials from the Vision of Hope Alliance, a non-governmental organisation working to support deprived communities.

Ghanaian fashion label Odefille is set to make a striking return to the runway with the unveiling of its latest collection, a Thai-inspired executive line that will debut at Accra Fashion Week 2025 from December 14-21. 

DEAR Mirror Lawyer, My cousin, Awura, was just convicted by the High Court of murder. Immediately after her conviction, her lawyer informed the court that she was about two months pregnant and,therefore, could not be sentenced by the court.

The prosecutor for the state opposed the plea and urged the court to impose life imprisonment on her, even though she is pregnant.

According to him, the mandatory punishment for murder in all cases is currently life imprisonment.