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NPP ready for 2024 IEA presidential debate – Kodua Frimpong
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced its readiness to participate in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary debates organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), as stated by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong.
On Thursday, August 22, the IEA inaugurated a 9-member Presidential Debate Committee tasked with coordinating engagements with political parties ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Justice Sophia Akuffo, the committee’s chairperson, emphasized their commitment to fostering a debate process that encourages participation and focuses on issue-based, people-centred discussions.
In an interview on Eyewitness News, Justin Kodua underscored the importance of these debates in providing a platform for political parties to present their visions and policies to the electorate.
He noted that while the NPP had opted out of similar debates in 2014 and 2016, the party is now eager to highlight its achievements and give voters a clear comparison of what each party offers.
“The reason why we are interested in this debate is for us to be able to espouse what our flagbearer has been going around the country and talking about in terms of his vision for the country in the next four years. So, if for instance in 2014 and 2016, there were reasons why the party didn’t attend but this time around the party is ready for any debate because we feel that as a nation we have made progress and also the election between the NPP and the other political parties, Ghanaians need to know what each political parties offer the best and credible manifesto,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed reluctance to participate, citing dissatisfaction with the IEA’s approach.
The Mahama 2024 campaign team criticized the IEA for not consulting the NDC before announcing the debates, calling the move unacceptable.
Despite this, the IEA remains committed to continuing the debate process, even if the NDC opts out. Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, a member of the Presidential Debate Committee, underscored the IEA’s history of successfully organizing debates, regardless of non-participation by some parties.
He emphasized the importance of engaging with the electorate and reaffirmed the IEA’s openness to further dialogue with all political parties.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
The Ghana Tourism Development Company, GTDC, under the leadership of Prof.Kobby Mensah has launched GTDC Campus Tourism Office at the University of Ghana.
The initiative aims to promote educational and domestic tourism by providing structured campus tour experiences showcasing key heritage sites, including the Archaeology Museum and the School of Performing Arts.
It will also offer students their first travel experience across the continent and inculcate in them love to visit Ghana’s heritage sites.
Addressing the gathering at the launch yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described tourism as a vehicle for education and heritage preservation, stressing that the sector must inspire citizens to value and protect national culture for future generations.
The minister highlighted tourism’s connection to disciplines such as history, the arts, economics and environmental science.
The minister further noted that the private sector is the engine of tourism economy, adding that the engines require fuel, which is talents.” by investing in these young people today, you are securing the quality, the innovation and competitiveness of our own industry for tomorrow.
She added that the establishment of the office represents a deliberate investment in the intellectual capital of the country.
The GTDC boss, Prof.Kobby Mensah, said,”at GTDC, we believe that if our tourism has to be sustainable, we have to promote domestic tourism and a very big part of it is getting students to appreciate tourism and helping them to organise tours.”
He added that the University of Ghana itself is a huge heritage site which must be explored.
Prof.Kobby Mensah noted that the initiative, which is one of many to be established across the country, is a joint partnership between GTDC and University of Ghana.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the University is a custodian of heritage which goes beyond the structures and welcomed the establishment of the first Campus Tourism Office.
She was optimistic that the office would be put to good use to achieve the intended purpose.
The launch brought together Stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to nurturing future tourism and hospitality professionals.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana has officially accepted an invitation to serve as Guest Country at Burkina Faso’s 22nd National Culture Week in Bobo-Dioulasso from April 22 to May 2, 2026.
The invitation was extended by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, accompanied by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, H.E. David Kabré.
Receiving the delegation, Abla Dzifa Gomashie reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy and strengthening historic ties between the two nations.
She noted that the festival will create opportunities for young creatives, expand exhibition platforms and promote commercial exchange within the creative sector.
The event will feature cultural performances, a community village and gastronomy fair, an arts market, literary engagements, and a craft and trade fair.
Ghana’s participation is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between John Dramani Mahama and Ibrahim Traoré, while fostering collaboration within the creative ecosystems of both countries.
