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Explorer’s 60-Day Tuk-Tuk Tour Promotes Ghana Tourism and Raises Support for Deaf and Blind Schools
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Ghanaian explorer and author Princess Umul Hatiyya Ibrahim Mahama has embarked on a 60-day nationwide tour across Ghana in a tuk-tuk to promote tourism, showcase local communities, and raise funds to support deaf and blind schools across the country.
The initiative, dubbed ‘60-Day Drive Across Ghana on a Tuk-Tuk,’ seeks to position Ghana as a destination for meaningful tourism while drawing attention to the educational and infrastructure needs of children with disabilities.
The expedition, which began in Accra in May, will cover all 16 regions of Ghana, more than 100 communities, over 20 tourist attractions, and approximately 5,000 kilometres before its completion.
Speaking in Tamale during the Northern Regional leg of the journey, Princess Umul said the project was inspired by her extensive travels to more than 90 countries across five continents and her belief that Ghana’s greatest tourism asset is the warmth and hospitality of its people.
She said, that the initiative aims to promote domestic tourism, increase visibility for community-based tourism enterprises, encourage patronage of Made-in-Ghana products, and raise GH¢10 million over a five-year period to support infrastructure improvements in ten schools for deaf and blind children.
She said, apart from the leaking roofs, broken ceilings and infrastructure defects in Savelugu School for the Deaf, the school has also been invaded by bats, making the stench unbearable.
“The journey has not been easy, but the purpose behind it keeps us moving. We are appealing to individuals, institutions, and corporate organisations to support this initiative so that together we can improve educational opportunities for children with disabilities while promoting Ghana’s tourism potential,” she said.
She said, departing Accra on May 17, the team has travelled through parts of the Greater Accra, Eastern, Volta, Oti, Northern and Savannah regions, covering more than 2,035 kilometres.
Md. Hatiyya said, tourism sites visited include the James Town Lighthouse and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra, Lake Volta at Akwamufie, Mount Gemi at Amedzofe, Kyabobo National Park in the Oti Region, the Dambai Ferry Port, Bontanga Dam in the Northern Region, and the Salaga Slave Market Museum in the Savannah Region.
As part of the expedition, the team has also engaged traditional authorities, community leaders, local government officials and tourism stakeholders to discuss opportunities for strengthening tourism development and preserving Ghana’s cultural heritage.
Among the traditional leaders visited are the Kumbungu Naa, Yo Naa of Savelugu, Tibung Lana, Dalun Lana and Zangbalung Na.
Princess Hatiyya described visits to the Savelugu School for the Deaf and interactions with hearing-impaired adults in the northern Region said, was one of the most memorable moments of the journey so far.
She noted that the encounters had reinforced the importance of investing in facilities and opportunities for children and persons living with disabilities.
The expedition she said, has also attracted significant public attention, with residents, motorists and market traders expressing interest in the campaign and making donations towards its objectives.
According to Princess Hatiyya, the project will culminate in a documentary series and a 30-minute film highlighting Ghana’s tourism assets, cultural heritage, community stories and the experiences encountered during the journey.
The organisers expect the initiative to contribute to increased visibility for tourism destinations, stimulate interest in domestic travel, promote cultural preservation and encourage greater investment in tourism infrastructure and community development.
Princess Umul Hatiyya commended donors and supporters who have contributed to the initiative and appealed for additional support to help achieve its fundraising target for deaf and blind schools across the country.
She expressed confidence that the journey would not only showcase Ghana’s tourism potential but also inspire greater national support for children living with disabilities.
“We have witnessed extraordinary kindness and hospitality from Ghanaians throughout this journey. It confirms that Ghana has a unique story to tell the world, and we are proud to be sharing that story one community at a time,” she said.
From: Geoffrey Buta, Tamale.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly criticised the decision of the Court of Appeal to acquit and discharge former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedinam Christine Tamakloe Attionu.
In a statement issued on July 30, 2026, the party described the ruling as a “travesty of justice” and claimed it was politically motivated.
The Court of Appeal on Thursday overturned her conviction and 10-year prison sentence, which had been imposed by the High Court in April 2024 on charges including stealing, causing financial loss to the state, money laundering and breaches of the Public Procurement Act.
According to the NPP, the former MASLOC boss was tried for five years and convicted after the High Court examined evidence relating to alleged financial irregularities during her tenure between 2013 and 2016.
The party noted that she left Ghana while the trial was ongoing and was later extradited from the United States, arriving in Ghana on June 9, 2026.
The NPP argued that the trial court had found that her actions caused a loss of nearly GH¢90 million to the state and that the evidence against her was substantial.
It questioned why the conviction was overturned barely seven weeks after her return to Ghana.
The party further accused the Attorney-General of using state institutions to protect people connected to the governing party.
It claimed that several cases involving persons affiliated with the government had been discontinued since January 2025 and that the acquittal of Madam Tamakloe Attionu was part of that pattern.
The NPP linked the decision to the ongoing case involving its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
It called for his immediate acquittal and discharge, arguing that his conviction was also politically motivated.
The party demanded that the Attorney-General publish details of all cases involving persons linked to the governing party that have been withdrawn, discontinued or otherwise terminated since January 2025, including the reasons for those decisions.
It called on the Judicial Council and the leadership of the Judiciary to take steps to restore public confidence in the justice system.
The NPP said it would pursue all lawful avenues, including a possible review at the Supreme Court where applicable, to ensure accountability in cases involving public funds.
The party maintained that the fight against corruption must not be selective and that public resources belong to all Ghanaians.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame has disagreed with the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit former MASLOC Chief Executive Officer Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, insisting that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Mr Dame made the remarks after the Court of Appeal unanimously overturned her conviction and 10-year prison sentence.
He maintained that the evidence presented by the prosecution during the trial was credible and sufficient to support the conviction.
According to him, Ms Tamakloe absconded after she had been confronted with evidence led by the prosecution.
Mr Dame questioned the basis for the acquittal and suggested that the current Attorney-General should explain what led to the Court of Appeal’s decision.
He wondered whether the appeal had been strongly opposed by the state.
When asked whether he would advise the Attorney-General to challenge the ruling, Mr Dame answered in the affirmative.
“Oh, definitely,” he stated.
The former Attorney-General spoke about the ongoing criminal case involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
He indicated that an application for stay of proceedings filed at the High Court had been dismissed, and that a fresh application had been filed at the Court of Appeal.
Mr Dame argued that the charge sheet in the case was defective and that the appellate court should determine the issue before the trial proceeds.
He further criticised the decision to hear the case during the legal vacation, describing it as an “unjustified haste” and saying such trials had not been conducted during vacation periods in the past.
Mr Dame said his legal team would formally protest the directive allowing the case to proceed during the vacation.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling in favour of Ms Tamakloe has become a major legal and political issue, with the Attorney-General’s Department already announcing plans to appeal the decision at the Supreme Court.
By: Jacob Aggrey
