Five Ghanaians Talk About Their Most Memorable Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day rarely stays the same. What begins as something soft and exciting often grows complicated with age, shaped by money, distance, marriage, faith, and the quiet realities of adulthood. For some people, one Valentine’s Day becomes unforgettable not because it was perfect, but because it revealed something true about love.

These five Ghanaians reflect on the Valentine’s Day they remember most and why it still lingers.

Abena, 29

My most memorable Valentine’s Day was in secondary school. I was too young to think love was something that announced itself dramatically. That year, I returned from break time to find a handwritten card and a bar of chocolate tucked neatly into my school bag. There was no name on it. At first, I thought it was a mistake. Then the excitement kicked in.

For weeks, I replayed every interaction I’d had with my crush, convinced he was the sender. I kept the card long after the chocolate was gone. I didn’t need confirmation; the possibility was enough. That feeling of being quietly chosen stayed with me longer than I expected.

Years later, university Valentine’s Days were louder. Dinners in East Legon, surprise flower deliveries, and social media posts designed to prove something, but none of them matched the tenderness of that anonymous gesture. That one Valentine’s Day was memorable for me because it was not trying too hard to be seen.

Efua, 31

The Valentine’s Day I remember most happened shortly before my husband proposed. At the time, he was still my boyfriend, and money was tight. He cooked dinner in his small apartment, lit candles, and handed me a handwritten letter.

It wasn’t extravagant, but I loved it because he had taken time to plan, to sit with his feelings, and to express them carefully. That mattered to me more than any gift.

Now that we’re married, Valentine’s Day looks different. The gifts still come, but the theatre is gone. That particular year stands out because it felt like the last moment of being actively wooed, before love shifted into partnership.

I don’t resent the change. I just remember that day fondly because it captured love in its most attentive phase.

Adjoa, 33

My most memorable Valentine’s Day was the first one my partner and I spent apart. He had relocated abroad just weeks earlier, and until then, the distance hadn’t fully sunk in.

There were no parties that year. No friends. No noise. Just a video call, awkward pauses, and a movie we tried to watch at the same time. That day forced me to confront what love looks like without physical presence. It made me realise what’s missing. Still, the effort to connect, even imperfectly, made it memorable.

It wasn’t my favourite Valentine’s Day, but it was the most honest one.

Kofi, 36

I proposed to my wife on Valentine’s Day in 2020. I knew it was a risky choice, easy to dismiss as cliché, but I wanted the day to carry meaning beyond flowers and dinner dates.

I spent weeks planning it, involving our families and choosing a setting that felt intimate. When she said yes, Valentine’s Day stopped being a public holiday for me and became personal history.

A year later, we got married on the same date. Since then, Valentine’s Day has carried the weight of commitment, memory, and responsibility. That day will always be memorable because it marked the moment love became a lifelong decision.

Kwesi, 27

My most memorable Valentine’s Day wasn’t joyful. I was in secondary school, watching my classmates receive cards, chocolates, and small gifts. I received nothing.

That was the day I stopped expecting Valentine’s Day to include me, learning what exclusion feels like, and how quickly expectations can turn into disappointment.

Later, even when I got into relationships, Valentine’s Day always felt forced. My faith also shaped how I saw it. Love shouldn’t require a borrowed celebration to be validated. That early experience stayed with me, influencing how little importance I attach to the day now.

For me, Valentine’s Day is memorable not for what happened, but for what it taught me about managing expectations.

How To Have A Memorable Valentine’s Day

1. Focus on intention
The most memorable moments aren’t always public or expensive. A quiet, thoughtful gesture, something done with care and sincerity, often lasts longer than grand displays meant to be seen.

2. Prioritise effort over expense
What makes Valentine’s Day meaningful isn’t how much you spend, but how present you are. Time, attention, and emotional honesty matter more than luxury or scale.

3. Show up, even imperfectly
Distance, limited resources, or awkward circumstances don’t cancel out love. Making the effort to connect, even when things aren’t ideal, can turn an ordinary day into a memorable one.

4. Define the day on your own terms
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. When you release external expectations and align the day with your values and reality, it becomes more authentic — and more memorable.

Are you planning a memorable Valentine’s Day? Check out the best ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Ghana

Valentine’s Day becomes memorable not because everything goes right, but because it reveals something true about love, about effort, and about yourself.

Be intentional, honest, and present. That’s usually enough.