Hot!
Let’s change the narrative – George Quaye tells ATWAG
Newly inducted President of Arts and Tourism Writers Association of Ghana (ATWAG), George Nii Armah Quaye who is the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Image Bureau and host of Showbiz A to Z on Joy FM has urged to help change the narrative in their practice.
According to him the “time has come for members of the association to take up their rightful place in scheme of affairs by focusing on petinent issues.”
He made this call at the Handing Over and End of Year ceremony held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at the Accra Tourist Information Centre.
Mr.Quaye who took over from Mr.William Asiedu, said there should be re-orientation and dedicated effort to highlight the country’s tourism and creative arts potential.
“The interesting connect is the fact that Mass media itself was birthed from culture! From the need to say something, share something, to tell a story!
So I ask you my Arts & Tourism Journalists, are you telling our story? If yes, exactly which story and how are you telling it?,” he quizzed.
He said, the creative industry in Ghana covered 10 main domains namely: visual arts, performing arts, cultural sites, traditional cultural expressions, publishing, new media, design, creative services, music and audio visuals.
Mr.Quaye noted that currently apart from music and movies and to a lesser extent heritage sites and visual arts, the other domains in the Creative Industry basket could arguably be likened to lesser-known sport. He added that the media has simply not shed enough light on it.
“We must change this and during my term, we will work together to change this narrative,” he said.
He said, that together with leadership the group would work beyond the welfare by collaborating with relevant agencies.
He thanked the outgoing executives for their dedication to the association in bringing it to its current stage.
Mr. Prince Osisiadan, a lawyer, who conducted the ceremony also urged members of ATWAG to be wary of defamatory stories that may land them in trouble.
ATWAG elected new executive committee members on December 17, 2021, for which George Nii Armah Quaye, was voted President.
Other executives are Livingstone Lotsu, Vice-President, Hagar Gyebuwaa Owusu, Treasurer, Rebekah Awuah, Secretary,Vera Adu-Amaning, Organiser,Stanley Awuku Wilson, Research Officer, Gloria Akpene-Acquah, Public Relations Officer.
The Arts and Tourism Writers Association of Ghana (ATWAG) is an association of Ghanaian arts writers/journalists and media workers.
It is aimed at promoting arts, tourism and culture reporting in Ghana while developing the professional capacity and welfare of its members.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Hot!
Prof Alidu Seidu files nomination for Tamale Central seat
The newly elected parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Tamale Central, Prof Alidu Seidu, has submitted his nomination forms to the Electoral Commission.
As of 10:00 a.m. today, he was the only person who had filed to contest the seat.
Nomination of candidates will close at the end of the day.
Associate Professor and Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana Legon, Prof. Alidu Seidu won the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries in the Tamale Central constituency with a landslide victory.
The elections, supervised by the party’s Elections and IT Directorate in the Northern Region, saw Prof. Seidu poll 840 votes out of the total valid ballots cast.
His closest contender, Lawyer Hanan Gundadow Abdul-Rahaman, secured 536 votes.
The other aspirants could not make significant gains, with Dr. Seidu Fiter obtaining 44 votes, Aliu Abdul-Hamid 23 votes, and the rest recording fewer than 10 votes each.
In all, 1,500 ballots were cast, with 6 ballots rejected and 7 spoilt ballots recorded.
The results were signed and declared by Dr. Arnold Mashud Abukari, NDC Northern Regional Director of Elections and IT.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) held parliamentary primaries in Tamale Central to choose a candidate for the upcoming by-election following the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed. Dr. Mohammed, who also served as Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, tragically died in a military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District on August 6, 2025, alongside seven others.
His passing left the Tamale Central seat vacant, as required by Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
The Electoral Commission has scheduled the by-election for September 30, 2025. While the NDC moved quickly to open nominations and vet aspirants, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) announced it would not contest the seat, citing the need to respect the somber circumstances and promote national unity.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Hot!
Ghana to locally refine its gold starting October 2025 – Sammy Gyamfi
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, has announced that plans are far advanced for the establishment of a state-owned gold refinery in the country.
Speaking at the 2025 Minerals and Mining Convention, Mr Gyamfi said the refinery will process locally mined gold into bullion instead of exporting it in its raw state.
According to him, it is unacceptable that Ghana, despite being a leading gold producer in Africa, continues to export raw gold known as dore.
He explained that the Gold Board, working with the Bank of Ghana and local refineries, will from October 2025 begin refining gold locally.
He also disclosed that an ultramodern assay laboratory will be built to ensure international standards in testing gold quality.
Mr Gyamfi noted that the refinery will be wholly state-owned and will help Ghana move away from raw mineral exports to value addition.
This, he said, will boost foreign exchange earnings, create jobs, and position Ghana as a hub for gold refining and jewellery production in Africa.
The CEO stressed that the project forms part of government’s strategy to ensure the country benefits fully from its natural resources and to transform the mining sector into a driver of economic growth.
By: Jacob Aggrey
