Christmas reloading
The green fir trees are already high in offices, supermarkets, offices, restaurants, hospitals and schools, among others. Some are tiny, others are very huge and well decorated with lights and ornaments.
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The radio stations are dishing out the traditional Christmas carols we have known since primary school.
Television commercials are all being tailored into one direction, with the Harmattan winds opening its doors. Even some of the smart hawkers on the streets have replaced the toilet rolls and chewing gums they sell with the sale of the Father Christmas hats, crowns, decorations and many others.
The message is clear! Christmas is in the air.
Although some traders at the market centres are lamenting the low tempo in patronage, the usual refrain every year; interestingly, it appears those at the big supermarkets and the malls are cashing in on the upcoming festivities.
Though the malls in Ghana are few, they are currently the action zones for
At places such as Game, Palace, Melcom Plus, Orca Decor, Max Mart, Koala and Shoprite, among others, people can be seen pushing trolleys filled with confectionery, vintage wines, champagnes, top class whiskies, vodkas, gins, crème liqueur and many others.
Good drinks do not come cheap and so are their prices. For example, a bottle of Courvoisier XO Cognac cost GH¢686, VSOP—GH¢238, Hennessy XO Extra Gold—GH¢1092.96, Hennessy special—GH¢229.64, Remey Martin XO Excellence —GH¢992.25.
Jonnie Walker Blue Label is GH¢864.35, Double Black—GH¢238.00, Normal Jonnie Walker—GH¢133, Red Label—GH¢67, Chivas Regal—GH¢198.05, Bacardi Superior—GH¢74, Baileys—GH¢89, Amarula—GH¢70, Laurent-Perrier (three litres)—GH¢882.67, Palmes d’or—GH¢1234.02 while the cheap tintos and non-alcoholic wines are between GH¢10 and GH¢28.
Some shoppers are equally buying new household electrical appliances to affirm their wish lists before the end of the year.
As usual, the cane weavers around Cantonments, Switchback Road and the Spintex Road have equally shifted their focus from weaving chairs and tables to weaving various shapes and sizes of baskets for corporate bodies and individuals to use for their hampers.
According to some of the weavers, they received orders from some of their clients in the middle of the year, so they have been extremely busy.
Most of the hampers are already being displayed in the shops for sale.
The content of the hampers determines the price. A simple hamper containing one 1.5 litre oil, a 5kg jasmine perfume rice with two tins of mackerel and tin tomatoes could be bought at GH¢55 while an economy hamper with nine items is going for GH¢92.
A standard hamper with 10 items is GH¢120, corporate hamper with 12 items is GH¢220, an executive hamper with 14 items is GH¢350 and a multipurpose with 20 items is GH¢575.
Interestingly, at almost all the supermarkets visited, there is a place set aside for clients who want to have their gift items to be beautifully wrapped.
Although some people say they cannot smell this Christmas due to financial constraints, we all know the typical Ghanaian will wait the last minute and storm the market to shop for the family.