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Live up to expectations-Dep. Minister to Tourism Day Celebration Committee
The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Ziblim Iddi Barri, has charged the committee responsible for the organisation of this year’s World Tourism Day Celebration, to live up to expectations making the forthcoming event a memorable one.
Dr. Ziblim Iddi Barri who also doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Gusheigu Constituency in the Northern Region indicated that even with the Covid-19 on hand, the committee must strive to further market Ghana in the global Map in relations to Tourism Sphere.
This, according to him, would further spur Ghana’s image, given the huge success the nation has chalked in the Year of Return Programme by attracting both the International and Local tourists to Ghana’s attraction sites, and to also ensure that all the necessary COVD- 19 precautions were adhered to.
Dr. Zublim Iddi Barri made these remarks at the inauguration of the Planning Committee on this year’s World Tourism Day Celebration on the August 11, 2020, on the event slated for September 27 2020, under the theme: Building Peace, Fostering Knowledge.
He stressed that globally Tourism has been viewed as a lead sector for the economic growth and developmental transformational agenda, since it has the propensity to create jobs and accelerate infrastructural development.
Dr. Ziblim Iddi Barri observed that many countries and local communities around the world including Japan, China and Korea had properly used tourism to improve on their socio- cultural and economies of their Nations, which had invariably reduced poverty in their countries.
He bemoaned that In spite of the African rich Tourism attractions, its continent is still lagging behind in its quest for development.
He, therefore, used the rare occasion to entreat committee members to discharge their duties with their utmost best.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. John Yao Agbeko also urged the committee members to fastrack their work in order to meet the timelines of the programme.
On her part, the President of the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) and also the Co- Chairperson of the planning committee, Mrs. Bella Ahu, assured the Tourism Ministry that the committee would deliver to achieve the overall goal of making the forthcoming world Tourism Day a huge success.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Executive Committee member and Volta River Authority (VRA) Board Member, Wonder Victor Kutor, has described calls for the resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as premature and unjustified.
He argued that there was no evidence to establish that the minister had committed any wrongdoing to warrant such demands.
Speaking on Joy News in Accra on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Mr Kutor questioned what had changed to justify the growing calls for the minister to step down.
He recalled that the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, had earlier indicated that the opposition was not accusing Mr Ablakwa of any wrongdoing.
Mr Kutor, therefore, challenged those demanding the minister’s resignation to provide fresh evidence to support their position.
“The call for the Minister to resign is premature, it is untenable. There is no evidence. I mean, what has he done wrong?” he questioned.
He added that documents, including boarding passes, airline receipts and flight manifests relating to the minister’s return journey, had been provided.
Mr Kutor expressed concern that the calls for Mr Ablakwa’s resignation could discourage young politicians from speaking out against corruption and advocating transparency.
According to him, politicians should not be targeted or maligned for demanding accountability, warning that such treatment could create the impression that speaking against corruption could later become a liability when one is appointed to public office.
He maintained that calling for accountability and transparency should not be used as grounds to target public officials without evidence of wrongdoing.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana will host the Africa Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTAC) 2026 alongside Industrial Skills Week Africa (ISWA) 2026 in Accra from December 9 to 12, 2026.
On the back of these programmes, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on corporate Ghana, the media and the general public to support the initiative through partnerships, sponsorships and active participation.
The events, supported by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), will bring together stakeholders to celebrate Africa’s rich cultural heritage, strengthen the creative economy, promote industrial skills development and create employment opportunities for young people.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
