News
Queen mother of Avetakpo community cries for help – Needs GH¢7,000 for treatment of Yaws
The Queen mother of Avetakpo community in the Ho West District of the Volta Region, Mama Aku Seme II, is calling on benevolent organisations and individuals to support the fight against the outbreak of a communicable skin disease- Yaws, in the area.
She said the disease which is affecting many children and adults in the farming and cattle rearing community has also affected residents of adjoining communities.
Speaking to The Spectator over the weekend in Accra, Mama Seme II said the affected residents were experiencing sleep deprivation as well as acute and prolonged bodily pains.
She said after contacting officials from the Ho East District Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) who later visited the area, they were asked to raise an estimated amount of GH₵7,000 to pay for the cost of treatment.
Mama Seme II said “we need help to get medications for the people, they cannot afford it and I don’t have that money either.”
She said about 50 people have so far been affected by the disease, making life difficult for residents in the community.
Mama Seme II called for immediate government intervention to support the community with funds for mass medical treatment.
She also emphasised the need for contingency measures to prevent the spread of the infections.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Yaws is a chronic disfiguring and debilitating childhood infectious disease that affects skin, bone and cartilage.
Yaws most often affects children in tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America. It spreads through direct contact with the skin of an infected person.
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.
