News
6-day Presidents’ Leadership Retreat by SGUC ends
The Southern Ghana Union Conference (SGUC) of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church has held a six-day Presidents’ Leadership Retreat conference of presidents under its jurisdiction.
Held from May 18-23 at the SDA College of Education in Koforidua, the retreat was themed: ‘Enhancing the Quality of Church Leaders.’
It brought together church leaders to engage in training, dialogue, and strategic planning.
In his opening remarks, the President of SGUC, Pr. Dr Thomas Techie Ocran, stated that the retreat aimed to equip leaders to handle pressing challenges while fostering unity and foresight in their leadership roles.
He said that the event served as a platform for sharing experiences, gaining insight, and improving leadership capabilities.
As the church prepares for its upcoming elections, Pr. Dr Ocran encouraged leaders to remain united and focused on their mission of preparing God’s people for Christ’s second coming.
He stressed the importance of mutual support among leaders, regardless of election outcomes, reminding them that leadership was a divine appointment.
He urged the pastors not to be emotionally distressed if they are not elected, but to continue serving faithfully.
Also addressing the participants was the President of the West-Central Africa Division (WAD) of the SDA Church, Pr. Dr Osei Bonsu, who challenged ministers to pursue personal growth and deeper understanding to effectively meet the spiritual and practical needs of their members.
He warned that errors made by gospel ministers could have far-reaching and eternal consequences.
The retreat featured a lineup of distinguished facilitators and speakers, including:
Prof. Opoku Boateng, former Vice President of the West-Central Africa Division,
Chaplain P.O. Mensah, former President of the SDA Church, Dr Pascal Brenya, Human Resource Expert and Consultant, Dr Mrs Stella Agyenim Boateng, Public Services Commission, Pr. Nana Kofi Nimako, Col. P.N.K. Duodu, and Pr. Mark Hado, Directors at SGUC and Prof. Vincent Mensah, Principal of the SDA College of Education.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
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.
