Entertainment
ATC revived to sell Africa
After a 45-year hiatus, the African Travel Commission (ATC) has been revived and repositioned to promote intra-Africa travel and tourism to sell Africa to the rest of the world.
ATC initially established in 1965 and operated up to 1975 was to function just like the European Travel Commission (ETC) shortly after many African countries gained independence from colonial powers and started running their own affairs as sovereign nations.
This was made known by Mr. Lucky Onoriode George, Executive Director of ATC, who said that Africa had now finally found its voice following the revival of the once-powerful continental body that helped shape global tourism between 1965 and 1975.
He noted that ATC was established as a regional voice for Africa, and due to the reforms it initiated then, the International Union of Official Travel Organisations [IUOTO] was transformed into World Tourism Organisation (WTO) before it was retransformed in 2014 into the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
ATC’s contributions led IUOTO to initiate September 27 every year as the globally celebrated World Tourism Day.
The ATC Executive Director reiterated that therevived commission, working with stakeholders in both the private and public sectors in the tourism industry on the continent would actualise the dreams of improving intra-African tourism.
ATC is a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) established to provide a platform where tourism officials and business professionals could meet and collaborate; as well as, connect experts and stakeholders that have shared vision across the travel and tourism industry in Africa.
Its activities are to be implemented by the executive unit based in Accra, Ghana under the guidance of the board of directors, and with the support of a number of expert groups.
Membership is open to all National Tourism Agencies (NTAs) of the 55 member countries in Africa as well as to all private-sector National Tourism Federations (NTFs).
Organiser of Ghana Music Awards (GMA)-USA has honoured Founder of Reign House Chapel, Prophet Eric Boahen Uche, for his enormous support to the music industry.
GMA-USA, led by the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Denise Boafo, affectionately called Don, made the presentation on Sunday, October 12, at the Chapel.
Presenting the citation, Mr Boafo said Prophet Eric Boahen has been a support system for various sections of Ghana’s music ecosystem.
This, he said, has gone a long way to keep many gospel artistes in business regardless of challenges confronting the industry.
“This is in recognition of your remarkable contribution to the gospel music industry in Ghana and beyond,” he said.
He revealed that the Man of God substantially supported this year’s GMA-USA, a gesture which cannot be kept under the rug.
On his part, Prophet Eric Boahen expressed his appreciation to the organisers for the gesture.
According to him, the gesture was a motivation to him and others to continously support the cause of GMA-USA.
He charged the organisers to work assiduously to promote Ghana Music in the diaspora.
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Renowned Ghanaian music heavyweight, Empress Gifty, has dedicated her seven awards won in 2025 to President John Dramani Mahama.
The musician and her management, led by Edem Mensah-Tsotorme, together with her husband, Mr Hopeson Adorye, called on the President at the Jubilee House on Thursday, October 9, 2025.
Empress Gifty, in her remarks, said the visit was to officially congratulate the President, who has been a father figure for her for many years, and also update him on successes chalked in her career.
She thanked the President for his guidance over the years and promised to even do better in the years ahead, as she prepares to release her new song for the year.
The gospel musician also appealed to President Mahama to consider building a large seating auditorium for the creative arts industry.
She appealed to the President for a 10,000 to 30,000 large seating auditorium to improve the fortunes of the creative sector when it comes to events in the country.
This, she said, would go a long way to help the sector flourish and position the country for other international events in the future.
Additionally, she urged the President to ensure the creative sector gets substantial allocation in the next budget.
The President, on his part, thanked Empress Gifty, who he calls his daughter, and the team for the visit, expressing how proud he was of her growth.
Again, he charged her to continuously work even harder for more laurels.
President Mahama pledged his commitment to the growth of the creative arts industry, adding that with regard to a large seating auditorium for the space, he has received some designs and suggestions for a convention centre which are under consideration.
According to him, once suggestions were approved and issues of funding are addressed, this would serve a multipurpose function and host many activities throughout the year.
The President further pledged his unflinching support for the creative arts sector and assured of budgetary support in the years ahead.
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