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Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi honoured for supporting international edition of Accra Arts and Craft Market
Deputy Director in charge of Corporate Affairs at the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi, has been honoured for his outstanding contribution to the success of the international edition of the Accra Arts and Craft Market.
The award was presented to him on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre for Pan African Culture in Cantonments, during a gala and awards night to close the 10-day event.
The management of the Accra Arts and Craft Market, led by Manager Adnan Mohammed and Deputy Manager Wango Abdul Karimu, recognised Mr. Kusi for his efforts in promoting the event through marketing and public relations, as well as helping to build strategic partnerships.
In a citation presented to him, organisers praised his dedication and described him as a key figure in boosting the market’s visibility and impact.
Mr. Kusi has served in various capacities within the Ghana Tourism Authority for over a decade.
He previously worked as Board Secretary, Special Assistant to the late CEO Charles Osei Bonsu, and later as Principal Corporate Affairs Officer before being promoted to Deputy Director of Domestic Marketing and, in February 2025, to Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs.
An alumnus of Prempeh College, Mr. Kusi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Ghana, a Master’s degree in Public Relations from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (now UNIMAC-GIJ), and an MBA in Marketing from the Methodist University College Ghana.
He also holds a Certificate in Tourism and Hospitality Management from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
The international edition of the Accra Arts and Craft Market, which ran from October 17 to 26, brought together artisans, designers, and creators from across Africa, including participants from Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
The fair showcased handmade products such as art, fashion, crafts, décor, and food, while promoting Ghanaian creativity and supporting small and medium-sized businesses to access international markets.
Under the theme “From Local Hands to the Global Stage,” the event provided a platform for cultural exchange, allowing locals, tourists, and diasporans to experience African art and craftsmanship firsthand.
Now in its eighth year, the Accra Arts and Craft Market continues to serve as a bridge between local artisans and global audiences, highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Ghana and Africa as a whole.
By: Jacob Aggrey
A former Sec ond Lady, Mrs Matilda Amis sah-Arthur, has called for urgent action to bridge literacy gaps among young girls in the country to advance gender equality.
She stressed that improving lit eracy among girls was essential not only for women’s empowerment but also for national development.
“Addressing the literacy gap is not a woman’s issue. It is a nation al necessity and, with the passing of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Act, 2024, Ghana is signalling that women belong in leadership, but leadership begins with a book,” she said.
Mrs Amissah-Arthur made the call at an event organised by the Ghana Library Authority (GLA) in Accra yesterday to mark Interna tional Women’s Day (IWD) on the theme: “Her Voice in Libraries: Women Transforming Literacy in Ghana.”
According to her, many girls in Ghana still drop out of school due to poverty, lack of mentorship and limited support systems, warning that without deliberate interven tions some risk becoming part of worrying national statistics.
The former Second Lady encouraged students, particularly girls, to see education not only as a tool for personal advancement but also as a means of empowering future generations.
“Don’t shy away from STEM and ICT subjects. Break into the male-dominated areas and bridge the digital divide,” she added.
Mrs Amissah-Arthur also called for stronger partnerships between men and women in advancing gen der equality, stressing that the issue should be viewed as a national development priority rather than solely a women’s concern.
“Gender equality is not a woman’s issue. It is a development issue. It requires partnership, respect and shared responsibility,” she said.
She further expressed opti mism that with the right support systems, every child, regardless of gender, could achieve their full potential.
In a remark, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Education, Lydia Essuah, said that despite progress made in promoting gender equality in the education sector, challenges remained in ensuring progression, completion and quality learning outcomes for all learners.
She highlighted the important role of libraries in advancing liter acy and lifelong learning skills, and called for increased investment in library infrastructure and services to help build a knowledge-driven society.
The Executive Director of the Ghana Library Authority, Alhassan Ziblim Bentintiche, also under scored the importance of libraries in empowering young people, par ticularly girls, with access to books, digital resources and mentorship opportunities.
He disclosed plans to expand Ghana’s library infrastructure and services to particularly attract the youth and promote literacy.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
Management of the Metro Mass Transit Limited has accused the government of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of pursuing what it describes as a “create, loot and share” agenda in the sale of portions of the Opera Square Bus Terminal to a private developer.
The Deputy Managing Director of the company, Haroun Apaw-Wiredu, raised the concerns while speaking to journalists at the Opera Square Bus Terminal in Accra on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
He indicated that the management of Metro Mass Transit would not tolerate any further unauthorized development at the terminal and would take steps to protect the property.
According to him, it would be wrong for a private developer to take control of state property for personal economic gain while the company and the public remain silent.
“How can we sit down and allow a private developer, just for his selfish economic gains, to capture state property for himself? No, we cannot sit down,” he stressed.
Mr Apaw Wiredu called on the public to resist what he described as attempts to take over state assets, adding that such actions would disadvantage ordinary citizens.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we must all stand up. We must all wake up. We must fight this level of brazen looting and attempts to milk the system at the expense of ordinary Ghanaians,” he indicated.
He explained that some individuals had been operating around the terminal for many years and alleged that the developer gained access to the land during the previous administration.
Mr Apaw Wiredu stressed that under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, the company would pursue all legitimate means to protect the terminal from what he described as unlawful takeover.
He added that management would use every legal avenue available to defend the property and prevent any attempt to take control of the land without proper authorization.
By: Jacob Aggrey
