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‘Patronise, promote Ghana’s tourist sites’
THE Forestry Commission has urged Ghanaians at home and in the diaspora to patronise and promote the country’s tourist reserves, saying Ghana has attractions that compare favourably with those in other countries.
The Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forestry Commission, Mr Timothy Ataboadey Awontiirim, said increased patronage would help showcase Ghana’s natural attractions to the rest of the world.
He made the call in Accra on Tuesday at the opening of activities to mark World Tourism Day.
Mr Awontiirim said Ghanaians should take a greater interest in the country’s reserves and encourage people to visit its tourist attractions.
“Look at other sites; when you compare our sites to them, they are far better than them,” he said.
“We are asking Ghanaians across the country, and those in the diaspora, to encourage people to patronise our reserves, to come and patronise what Ghana is made of and showcase it to the world.”
He said tourism offered Ghana an opportunity to generate economic value while preserving the country’s natural resources for future generations.
Mr Awontiirim argued that tourism provided a more sustainable economic opportunity than relying heavily on natural resources such as gold and cocoa.
“We have come to understand that tourism is the best investment you can get, not your cocoa, not your gold that has plagued us with a lot of galamsey, diseases and water issues. Tourism is green,” he said.
“Tourism is what will stand the test of time, not our minerals, not our gold.”
He said the Forestry Commission was also using digital technology to make Ghana’s tourist attractions more accessible to audiences around the world.
The Commission’s World Tourism Day celebration is being held under the global theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism”, with the local sub-theme, “From Protected Areas to Smart Destinations”.
As part of the programme, the Commission is organising a Smart Eco-Tourism Hackathon to develop artificial intelligence and software solutions for Ghana’s parks and reserves.
The solutions are expected to improve visitor management, provide immersive digital access and support data-driven anti-poaching efforts.
An Eco-Tourism Innovation Exhibition is also showcasing technologies, including virtual reality trail previews, drone-assisted canopy monitoring and contactless hospitality systems.
Mr Awontiirim stressed, however, that technology should complement Ghana’s natural attractions rather than replace them.
By Abigail Arthur
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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opened applications for members interested in contesting as its parliamentary candidates in the 2028 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the party said interested members must declare their intention to contest between Sunday, November 1, and Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
According to the statement signed by the party’s Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, prospective candidates must complete an online form within the specified period.
The party said a non-refundable application fee of GH¢5,000 would be charged to each prospective candidate.
It added that all applicants would undergo vetting and screening to determine their eligibility to contest on the party’s ticket.
The NPP announced plans to organise capacity-building workshops for prospective candidates in December 2026. The workshops will be held across the Northern, Middle and Southern zones, with details of the venues to be announced later.
The party stressed that the guidelines would apply to all prospective candidates, including sitting NPP Members of Parliament who wish to contest again.
It further warned aspirants against starting campaign activities following the opening of the application process.
According to the statement, the existing directive prohibiting campaign activities remains in force until the party gives official clearance.
It cautioned that anyone who violates the directive would face appropriate sanctions under the party’s constitution and regulations.
The NPP said the process was designed to promote fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for all aspirants as it prepares to select candidates for all 276 constituencies ahead of the 2028 elections.
It urged prospective candidates to follow the guidelines and conduct themselves with discipline and respect for one another throughout the process.
The party said its broader objective was to strengthen unity within its ranks and rebuild public confidence ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
eputy Foreign Minister accompanies Veep to Shanghai to champion Global South reform, industrial drive
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, accompanied Vice-President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on a successful working visit to Shanghai, China, from 15th to 19th October 2026, at the invitation of the East China Normal University (ECNU).
The highlight of the visit was the 2026 Global South Academic Forum held on 17th October, which brought together over 200 scholars, policymakers, political party leaders and media professionals from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, under the theme “Global South Political Parties: Governance and Modernisation.”
In her keynote address, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang asserted that political independence is only truly the beginning, stating that “winning political power and governing effectively are related but not the same responsibility.” She called for stronger South-South cooperation, multilateralism and reform of the global financial architecture to end debt traps, ensure fair risk assessments and promote climate policies that respect different national circumstances.
On 18th October, she addressed a business forum with Chinese investors, linking Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy policy to industrialization. Warning that training youth without factories creates unemployment, she appealed for factories to be established in Ghana to serve the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market, with priority on value addition in cocoa processing, shea butter, cashew, coconut and timber.
On October 19, Ghana’s Ambassador to China, Kojo Bonsu, hosted a dinner at the Shangri-La for the Vice-President, attended by members of the Ghanaian community and business leaders, who praised the thorough preparation by the Ghana Embassy staff for the visit.
Throughout the trip, Mr. Quayson coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to align the engagements with Ghana’s jobs and transformation agenda.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
