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Let’s change the narrative – George Quaye tells ATWAG
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Newly inducted President of Arts and Tourism Writers Association of Ghana (ATWAG), George Nii Armah Quaye who is the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Image Bureau and host of Showbiz A to Z on Joy FM has urged to help change the narrative in their practice.
According to him the “time has come for members of the association to take up their rightful place in scheme of affairs by focusing on petinent issues.”
He made this call at the Handing Over and End of Year ceremony held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at the Accra Tourist Information Centre.
Mr.Quaye who took over from Mr.William Asiedu, said there should be re-orientation and dedicated effort to highlight the country’s tourism and creative arts potential.
“The interesting connect is the fact that Mass media itself was birthed from culture! From the need to say something, share something, to tell a story!
So I ask you my Arts & Tourism Journalists, are you telling our story? If yes, exactly which story and how are you telling it?,” he quizzed.
He said, the creative industry in Ghana covered 10 main domains namely: visual arts, performing arts, cultural sites, traditional cultural expressions, publishing, new media, design, creative services, music and audio visuals.
Mr.Quaye noted that currently apart from music and movies and to a lesser extent heritage sites and visual arts, the other domains in the Creative Industry basket could arguably be likened to lesser-known sport. He added that the media has simply not shed enough light on it.
“We must change this and during my term, we will work together to change this narrative,” he said.
He said, that together with leadership the group would work beyond the welfare by collaborating with relevant agencies.
He thanked the outgoing executives for their dedication to the association in bringing it to its current stage.
Mr. Prince Osisiadan, a lawyer, who conducted the ceremony also urged members of ATWAG to be wary of defamatory stories that may land them in trouble.
ATWAG elected new executive committee members on December 17, 2021, for which George Nii Armah Quaye, was voted President.
Other executives are Livingstone Lotsu, Vice-President, Hagar Gyebuwaa Owusu, Treasurer, Rebekah Awuah, Secretary,Vera Adu-Amaning, Organiser,Stanley Awuku Wilson, Research Officer, Gloria Akpene-Acquah, Public Relations Officer.
The Arts and Tourism Writers Association of Ghana (ATWAG) is an association of Ghanaian arts writers/journalists and media workers.
It is aimed at promoting arts, tourism and culture reporting in Ghana while developing the professional capacity and welfare of its members.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
African leaders have been urged to strengthen political commitment and domestic investment to end preventable maternal deaths and AIDS by 2030.
The call comes as African health ministers and policymakers meet in Accra to deliberate on health financing, health security and universal health coverage across the continent.
Mr Edouard Bizimana, Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, made the call on Tuesday at the opening of the African Union’s (AU) 25th Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra.
He said Africa needed increased domestic investment to build resilient health systems as it continued to grapple with infectious diseases and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Mr Bizimana, who is also Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, said although Africa accounted for nearly 17 per cent of the world’s population, it bore 24 per cent of the global disease burden while having less than three per cent of the global health workforce and only one per cent of global health expenditure.
“Despite maternal mortality declining by nearly 40 per cent since 2000, Africa still accounts for about 70 per cent of maternal deaths globally, while almost two-thirds of people living with HIV reside on the continent,” he said.
Mr Bizimana said the growing burden of NCDs was placing additional pressure on already stretched health systems.
“These figures are not merely statistics. They represent painful human realities, preventable losses and unacceptable inequalities, they remind us that health is not an expense it is a strategic investment and a prerequisite for our sovereignty and development. “he said.
Mr Bizimana said recent global health emergencies had exposed Africa’s vulnerability and underscored the need to expand local production of medicines and vaccines, strengthen the health workforce and improve emergency preparedness.
“Our citizens expect resilient health systems where every mother can give birth safely, every child has access to essential healthcare and every African enjoys quality health services regardless of where they live,” he said.
The two-day summit, being held ahead of the 20th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, has brought together health ministers, policymakers and health stakeholders to identify solutions to Africa’s health financing and security challenges.
Madam Florence Samizi, Tanzania’s Deputy Health Minister, called for stronger collaboration among AU Member States to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage.
The summit is being held on the theme: “Advancing Justice, Equality and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, Tuberculosis, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa.”
The meeting is expected to adopt the Accra Declaration, a roadmap to strengthen Africa’s health systems and advance health sovereignty by 2030. -GNA
Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Political Science, Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato says the imprisonment of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will have little meaning unless it leads to a broader crackdown on illegal mining.
In a post on his Facebook page on the July 21, 2026, Dr. Zaato said the judgment should mark the beginning of efforts to completely eradicate galamsey and hold all those involved accountable, regardless of their political affiliation.
He said the country must work towards restoring polluted rivers, protecting forests and ensuring that people implicated in illegal mining activities are prosecuted.
According to him, those the President has publicly acknowledged to be involved in galamsey should face prosecution.
He called for the prosecution of district chief executives (DCEs), members of Parliament (MPs) and senior political party officials who have been accused of engaging in or supporting illegal mining.
Dr. Zaato further urged the government to take decisive action to end the destruction of the country’s forests caused by galamsey.
He maintained that the imprisonment of Chairman Wontumi would only have a lasting impact if it results in a comprehensive and impartial fight against illegal mining across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
