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African Tourism Partners appoints Feancis Doku as West Africa Regional Representative 

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Africa Tourism Partners (ATP), a distinguished Pan-African tourism development, business advisory, and consulting firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Francis Doku as the new West Africa Regional Representative, effective immediately.

 Mr. Doku brings a wealth of experience as a Ghanaian expert in marketing communications, media, and tourism promotion, and we are confident that his leadership will strengthen our initiatives in the region.

ATP, a UN Tourism Affiliate Member and recipient of the UN Tourism Distinction Award, is a Pan-African firm specialising in tourism development and strategic destination marketing. 

Its expertise spans strategy formulation, master planning, and strategic marketing within the travel, tourism, hospitality, aviation, and MICE-E (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions, and Events) sectors. Through robust partnerships and global networks, ATP drives initiatives that deliver measurable, sustainable outcomes.

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A Legacy of Strategic Impact

With over two decades of experience in strategic business leadership, media innovation, and tourism development, Francis Doku’s appointment signals ATP’s ambition to accelerate West Africa’s growth as a global tourism and MICE-E powerhouse.

Doku’s career is a masterclass in versatility, spanning journalism, strategic media buying, media management, digital marketing, event management, content production, destination marketing, and tourism promotion.

 As Chief Operations Officer of Digital Plugin Limited, he transformed the agency into a pivotal force in Ghana’s digital marketing and MICE sector, securing high-profile conferences that positioned Ghana as a key player in business tourism.

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His entrepreneurial flair was equally evident in Maestro Africa Group, a communications consultancy he founded, where he crafted campaigns for blue-chip brands and curated exhibitions that seamlessly blended cultural storytelling with economic opportunity.

In his role as General Manager of Adams Media Limited (Carat Ghana), Doku led media strategies for global brands like Coca-Cola, MTN, Vlisco, and Procter & Gamble, achieving over 100% annual growth in billings through strategic media planning and execution.

As a travel writer, content creator, and destination marketing professional, Doku has collaborated with diverse destinations through marketing campaigns, familiarisation trips, and influencer initiatives, significantly boosting tourism awareness and conversions. 

Whether amplifying South African Tourism’s outreach in Ghana or writing evocatively about Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Kenya, or Namibia, his passion for showcasing Africa’s rich tapestry has been a driving force in West African travel narratives.

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His tenure as General Manager of TV3 and MG Digital under Media General further showcased his transformative leadership.

 Under his watch, TV3’s market share grew by 40%, while the digital platforms experienced over 60% growth, driven by strategic content development and audience engagement.

A Vision Rooted in Collaboration

“Francis embodies the rare trifecta of strategic vision, media savvy, and tourism expertise,” said Kwakye Donkor, CEO of Africa Tourism Partners.

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 “His ability to turn ideas into measurable impact – whether through destination branding or youth empowerment – aligns perfectly with our mission to position West Africa as a beacon of inclusive growth.”

For Doku, this role is both an exciting challenge and a call to action.

“West Africa’s cultural wealth and natural wonders are unparalleled, but unlocking their full potential demands collaboration,” he noted. 

“I’m eager to work with governments, private sector leaders, and our vibrant youth to build a tourism ecosystem that doesn’t just attract visitors but transforms communities.”

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A Future Built on Heritage and Innovation Doku’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for African tourism. 

As global travellers increasingly seek authentic, sustainable experiences, West Africa’s vibrant cultures, historic landmarks, and emerging MICE infrastructure position it as a rising star on the global tourism map. His proven track record in digital transformation ensures that ATP’s initiatives will resonate in today’s hyper-connected world, bridging tradition with innovation to drive growth.

About Africa Tourism Partners (ATP):

Africa Tourism Partners (ATP) is a Pan-African tourism development and strategic destination marketing advisory firm. ATP specializes in strategy formulation, research, master planning and strategic marketing development in the travel, tourism, hospitality, aviation and golf sub-industries. 

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Our firm leverages the expertise it has established through our global strategic partners and global networks to ensure that we continually execute impactful and uniquely designed programmes with measurable outcomes.

Being based in Johannesburg, South Africa, ATP has strategic key partnerships in Angola, Botswana, China, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, Singapore, Scotland, Tanzania, USA and Zimbabwe. These teams of experienced experts, representatives, global partners and networks, allow us to execute uniquely designed and impactful programs for our clients.

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Ghana Post launches ‘Skool Box’ initiative

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Mrs Rita Sraha (fourth from left) together with Ghana Post regional MDs launching the SKOOLBOX initiative

Ghana Post on Tuesday launched the ‘Skool Box’ initiative, one aimed at supporting education and delivery services to students in Accra.

The initiative forms part of Ghana Post’s broader transformation agenda to diversify its services and provide innovative solutions to everyday challenges faced by Ghanaians.

Launching the initiative, the Managing Director of the company, Mrs Rita Sraha, said the idea was inspired by the practical difficulties students and parents often faced in transporting school items, particularly at the beginning of the academic term.

According to her, the increasing space constraints in schools also makes it difficult for students to carry large quantities of belongings with them, creating the need for parents to find alternative ways of sending additional items to their children.

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Mrs Sraha said the initiative aligns with the broader national agenda of using digital technology and innovation to expand opportunities, improve public services and strengthen Ghana’s economic capabilities.

The Managing Director however, stressed that the success of the initiative would depend on Ghana Post’s willingness to listen to users, learn from experience and continuously improve the service.

Mrs Sraha explained that Ghana Post was gradually expanding beyond its traditional postal operations through partnerships and services in areas including last-mile delivery, agency banking, logistics and insurance.

She said the School Box Service was another example of how the organisation was using its institutional capabilities to develop solutions to practical challenges within communities.

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The Acting Chief Commercial Officer of Ghana Post, Mr Benard Yaw Atta-Sonno, said the service was designed to provide convenient and reliable delivery of school-related items while creating new business opportunities within the education sector.

According to him, the company was also strengthening its focus on digitalisation, customer experience, strategic partnerships and data-driven commercial decision-making.

“Our objective is clear: to build multiple sustainable revenue streams around the assets and capabilities that Ghana Post already possesses, while developing new capabilities for emerging markets,” he said.

He explained that, in the short term, the initiatives were expected to increase transaction volumes, improve the digitalisation of the company’s network, attract new customer segments and generate additional revenue from services that complemented its traditional postal operations.

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He noted that the School Box, in particular, provided an opportunity for Ghana Post to develop recurring business around the annual school cycle, while creating opportunities to cross-sell other logistics and delivery services.

The launch forms part of Ghana Post’s wider efforts to modernise its operations and position the company as a diversified logistics and service provider beyond its traditional postal business.

By Linda Abrefi Wadie

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Don’t turn students away over trunks and chop boxes -GES

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Some students with their trunks

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has asked heads of schools not to turn away newly admitted students or refuse to accommodate them over metal trunks or wooden chop boxes.

“These practices may impose unnecessary financial burdens on parents and guardians who may be unable to afford alternative storage containers prescribed by individual schools,” the GES said in a statement.

“All students admitted to boarding accommodation should be treated fairly and accommodated without discrimination based on their economic circumstances or ability of their parents or guardians to purchase a particular brand or type of personal effects.”

The statement, signed by Professor Mrs Smile Dzisi, the Deputy GES Director-General, comes after Management of the Service received reports that some senior high schools and senior high technical schools (SHS/SHTS) were turning newly admitted students or refusing to accommodate them because they brought metal trunks, wooden chop boxes or other personal storage containers to school.

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Consequently, the GES has asked regional directors to inform all heads to desist from turning away or refusing admissions to duly admitted students solely on the basis of the type of trunk, chop box, or personal storage container they bought to school.

Provided the item was reasonably sized, safe and did not pose risk to the health, safety or welfare of other students, those students must not be refused accommodation, it added.

The statement said: “Any reported case of a duly admitted student being denied accommodation or turned away solely because of the type of trunk, chop box or personal storage container brought to school should be investigated and same reported to management.”

“Any head of SHS/SHSTS who flouts this directive shall be dealt with in accordance with the applicable standards, regulation and laws of the service.” –GNA

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