News
Ghana-Peru Arts Contest Returns to Strengthen Cultural Ties
The Embassy of Peru in Ghana has launched the second edition of the Ghana-Peru Arts Contest, a cultural initiative aimed at deepening friendship and artistic exchange between the two countries.
The contest, officially launched on June 10, invites young Ghanaian artists aged between 15 and 25 to create original works that illustrate the friendship between Ghana and Peru.
Participants will compete in three categories: painting, drawing and pencil work, and sculpture and other visual art forms.
Speaking at the launch, Peru’s Ambassador to Ghana, Rosa Liliana Gómez Cárdenas de Weston, described cultural diplomacy as an important tool for promoting understanding, friendship and appreciation among nations.
“Diplomacy is the language of comprehension, understanding and friendship. Cultural diplomacy promotes cultural appreciation, global awareness, inclusivity, heritage preservation, and provides enrichment to the society,” she said.
The Ambassador noted that although Ghana and Peru are separated by thousands of kilometres, the two countries share deep cultural connections, particularly through Afro-Peruvian heritage expressed in music, food and traditions.
“Peru and Ghana, though separated by an ocean, share the same soul. An important binding element between both countries is the Afro-Peruvian heritage through culture, rhythm and food,” she said.
The competition follows the success of the inaugural edition held in 2021 and is being organised by the Embassy of Peru together with the Honorary Consul of Peru in Tema, Ghassan Yared.
According to Ambassador Gómez Cárdenas de Weston, the contest was conceived as a friendship project to encourage Ghanaians to learn more about Peru through artistic expression.
She announced that the contest will now become an annual event, thanks to continued support from the honorary consul.
“I am very pleased to announce that thanks to the generosity of the Peruvian Honorary Consul this contest will be celebrated on a yearly basis,” she said.
Organisers said all submitted works must be original, handmade and not generated using artificial intelligence.
Entries will first be submitted electronically before shortlisted artists are asked to present their works physically for final judging.
The contest offers cash prizes and recognition for outstanding participants. Winners in each of the three categories will receive $300, a certificate and a Peruvian handicraft, while an overall winner will receive an additional $200. Six honourable mentions will also be recognised.
The submission deadline is September 17, with the awards ceremony and exhibition scheduled for October at the University of Ghana’s Great Hall.
Organisers plan to showcase shortlisted and winning artworks during the exhibition, giving young artists a platform to share their creativity with a wider audience.
Encouraging participants to take part, the Ambassador said the contest goes beyond competition and offers young people an opportunity to express themselves and inspire others.
“This contest is more than a competition.it is an opportunity to express yourself, inspire others, and showcase the power of creativity,” she said.
A woman who is accused of bolting with ‘susu’ money totaling GH₵156,445 has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.
Martha Nana Esi Afful was alleged to have collected the money from 35 complainants.
Charged with 35 counts of fraudulent breach of trust, Martha, who was earlier remanded, pleaded not guilty.
The court, presided over by Mr Joseph Y. Kuunsong on Wednesday, admitted the accused person to a GH₵200,000 bail with two sureties.
One of the sureties, the court said, must be a public servant earning not less than GH₵5,000.
She is expected to reappear on August 12, 2026.
The Prosecution’s case before the court is that the complainants are traders and residents at La in Accra.
Prosecution described Martha as a ‘Susu’ collector, who resided at Burma Camp.
The court heard that the accused person run a business with the name ‘ZOE’ and she deceived the 35 complainants into believing that she collected ‘Susu’ daily, which was kept for a period of one-three years, and paid interest on the money invested.
The complainants contributed in 2023 for a three-year period, prosecution said.
In December 2025, when the complainants went to take their money with interest, Martha went into hiding and only took phone calls from a few complainants.
Prosecution said the accused provided a MTN Momo number through which a few of the complainants still paid monies.
It said all efforts made to collect the money, totaling GH₵156,445 from her, proved futile.
On June 14, 2026, a report was made to the police and Martha was picked up at a washing bay at Tse Addo.
During interrogation, she admitted the offence in her caution statement, saying she lost her husband and relocated to Swedru in the Central Region, hence the complainants were unable to reach her from December 2025 till date.
Prosecution said Martha further stated that she had invested the monies into refuse collection business and she needed time to pay the amount.
Police are investigating the claims. –GNA
A Public Health Nurse at the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal of the Ayawaso West Health Directorate, Ms Patience Adoli Kporxah, has cautioned the public against coming into contact with floodwaters, warning that exposure can lead to serious diseases, infections and injuries.
Floodwater, she said, should always be treated as contaminated, regardless of how clean it appears, because it may contain sewage, human and animal waste, chemicals, fuel, sharp objects and disease-causing micro-organisms.
In an interview with The Spectator in Accra on Thursday, Ms Kporxah explained that contact with contaminated floodwater exposes people to bacteria, viruses, parasites, hazardous chemicals and other physical hazards that can result in illness or injury.
Her advice came in the wake of recent exposure to floodwater following Monday’s torrential rains that left vast areas of the capital flooded.
As a result, a lot of people were seen either ‘swimming’ in the floodwater to rescue people or retrieving items being washed away.
According to her, exposure to floodwater could cause skin infections, particularly where there are cuts or open wounds, as well as diarrhoea diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery and other forms of gastroenteritis if contaminated water was swallowed.
Other health risks, she said include hepatitis A, eye and ear infections, tetanus in people with untreated wounds or incomplete vaccination, and injuries from submerged sharp objects, debris or electrical hazards.
Ms Kporxah advised anyone who had contact with floodwater to monitor their health closely and seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, severe headache, muscle aches, skin rash, difficulty breathing, or yellowing of the eyes or skin.
She also urged people whose wounds became red, swollen, painful or begin to discharge pus, as well as those who accidentally swallow floodwater, to report to the nearest health facility without delay.
Although not everyone exposed to floodwater requires immediate treatment, she stressed that pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, individuals living with chronic illnesses and those with significant wounds should seek prompt medical evaluation.
On water safety, Ms Kporxah cautioned that rainwater was not automatically safe for drinking or cooking, especially during or after flooding. She explained that rainwater collected from roofs, gutters or open containers could be contaminated by bird and animal droppings, dust, leaves, bacteria, viruses, parasites and chemical pollutants.
She advised that rainwater intended for drinking should first be treated by boiling, chlorination or another approved water purification method before use.
Touching on food safety, Ms Kporxah said factory-sealed bottled drinks and canned foods with intact packaging might still be safe after flooding.
However, she stressed that any containers submerged in floodwater should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before handling. Foods in paper packaging, damaged containers or products with broken seals should be discarded because contaminated water may have seeped into them.
She further warned that flooding increases the risk of outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever and other waterborne diseases through contaminated water sources.
In addition, she said flooding could contribute to respiratory illnesses in overcrowded shelters and mould-infested buildings, foodborne illnesses from spoiled or contaminated food, and mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress, depression and trauma.
It could also disrupt access to medicines and healthcare for people living with chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, asthma and kidney disease.
Ms Kporxah therefore urged the public to practice good hygiene, avoid unnecessary contact with floodwater, consume only safe food and drinking water, and seek medical attention promptly whenever symptoms develop.
She said observing these preventive measures would help minimise the risk of disease outbreaks and protect lives as the country continues to experience heavy rains and flooding in some communities.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
