News
2nd Lady Samira Bawumia grabs Climate Clock award
The Second Lady, Mrs Samira Bawumia, has received the pres¬tigious Climate Clock Award for her outstanding efforts in addressing the missing gap in climate conversa¬tions and empowering African women and children.
The aim was to raise awareness about how much time we have left to save our planet and to show how we can use this number to ignite climate action.
She was recognised by the Climate Clock Initiative (CCI) for her out¬standing contributions in organising the Africa Women and Children Con¬ference (AFRIWOCC), which served as a critical platform for stakeholders and experts to discuss issues concern¬ing women and children in Africa, bridging the gap in climate conversa¬tion.
The CCI is a global call for Clock Change Action, which is a clock that shows the time left for climate correction of a certain level and a symbol of urgency and action across the globe.
Receiving the Clock, Mrs Bawumia called on stakeholders to make con¬scious and deliberate efforts to create space for women and young people’s voices, especially on climate change, to be heard.
“You cannot make progress without leveraging the full resources of the majority of our population who are women and children, especially in decision making,” she said.
According to her, climate change was increasingly inducing migration and heightening political insecurity threats across the sub-region and further impacting economic stability, especially women and children.
She said climate action must be “holistic, inclusive and intersectional” in ad¬dressing the diversities and challenges faced by all, especially women and children, from differ¬ent backgrounds, includ¬ing those in rural areas, urban centres, indigenous communities and persons with disabilities.
Presenting the clock, a Climate Change Activist and Lead Organiser of Climate Clock Ghana, Ms Portia Adu-Mensah, commended the Second Lady for taking the right initiatives to raise aware¬ness and rallying public support for climate action.
“Mrs Samira Bawumia’s commitment to connecting African women, chil¬dren and leaders through the AFRI-WOCC creates an invaluable oppor¬tunity for marginalised voices to be heard,” she said.
She said climate change was an ur¬gent global challenge that demanded coordinated efforts from leaders and citizens.
Ms Adu-Mensah said climate change continues to pose unprecedented challenges; therefore there was the need to include everyone, especially women and children, in the discourse on climate change, striving towards a sustainable and equitable world for all.
She said there was the need to build capacity and raise awareness about the importance of their involve¬ment in climate change initiatives by encouraging women and children to take up leadership positions and promote their representation in the decision-making processes at regional and national levels.
Ms Adu-Mensah said providing financial support and opportunities to women-led and child-focused climate change initiatives was vital in em¬powering them to make a meaningful impact.
“As an advocate, I strongly believe in the importance of including the voices and perspectives of children and women in decision-making pro¬cesses. It is essential to equip them with knowledge and skills related to climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable practices, empow¬ering them to actively contribute to climate change action,” she said.
ByAgnes Opoku Sarpong
The Ghana Tourism Development Company, GTDC, under the leadership of Prof.Kobby Mensah has launched GTDC Campus Tourism Office at the University of Ghana.
The initiative aims to promote educational and domestic tourism by providing structured campus tour experiences showcasing key heritage sites, including the Archaeology Museum and the School of Performing Arts.
It will also offer students their first travel experience across the continent and inculcate in them love to visit Ghana’s heritage sites.
Addressing the gathering at the launch yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described tourism as a vehicle for education and heritage preservation, stressing that the sector must inspire citizens to value and protect national culture for future generations.
The minister highlighted tourism’s connection to disciplines such as history, the arts, economics and environmental science.
The minister further noted that the private sector is the engine of tourism economy, adding that the engines require fuel, which is talents.” by investing in these young people today, you are securing the quality, the innovation and competitiveness of our own industry for tomorrow.
She added that the establishment of the office represents a deliberate investment in the intellectual capital of the country.
The GTDC boss, Prof.Kobby Mensah, said,”at GTDC, we believe that if our tourism has to be sustainable, we have to promote domestic tourism and a very big part of it is getting students to appreciate tourism and helping them to organise tours.”
He added that the University of Ghana itself is a huge heritage site which must be explored.
Prof.Kobby Mensah noted that the initiative, which is one of many to be established across the country, is a joint partnership between GTDC and University of Ghana.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the University is a custodian of heritage which goes beyond the structures and welcomed the establishment of the first Campus Tourism Office.
She was optimistic that the office would be put to good use to achieve the intended purpose.
The launch brought together Stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to nurturing future tourism and hospitality professionals.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana has officially accepted an invitation to serve as Guest Country at Burkina Faso’s 22nd National Culture Week in Bobo-Dioulasso from April 22 to May 2, 2026.
The invitation was extended by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, accompanied by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, H.E. David Kabré.
Receiving the delegation, Abla Dzifa Gomashie reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy and strengthening historic ties between the two nations.
She noted that the festival will create opportunities for young creatives, expand exhibition platforms and promote commercial exchange within the creative sector.
The event will feature cultural performances, a community village and gastronomy fair, an arts market, literary engagements, and a craft and trade fair.
Ghana’s participation is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between John Dramani Mahama and Ibrahim Traoré, while fostering collaboration within the creative ecosystems of both countries.
