News
Porter Girls win Visula Art contest
Archbishop Porter Girls’ Senior Secondary School (APGS) emerged champions at the just-ended Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Visual Art Festival for Senior High Schools organised in Sekondi in the Western Region
The school grabbed 87.5 points, followed by St. Mary’s Boys SHS with 86 points and Adiembra SHS, 80.5 points for second and third positions respectively, based on organisation, craftmanship and overall impression.
Organised by Centre for National Culture (CNC) of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly with support from Department of Industrial Painting and Design at Takoradi Technical University and Media General’s Takoradi- based radio station, Connect 97.1FM, the event witnessed outstanding performances in portrait and still life drawing.
Master Ebenezer Cudjoe from Takoradi Secondary School emerged winner in portrait drawing with 90 points followed by Miss Erica Emefa Ametsor from Archbishop Porter Girls, 87.3 points and Samuel Ghunney,of Bompeh SHS, getting 86.3 points.
In the still life drawing, Addison Richman of Fijai SHS emerged winner with 81 points, followed by Venessa Whigham of Ahantaman Girls’ SHS, 79 points and Wendy Naa Korley of Archbishop Porter Girls’ SHS, who got 75.5 points.
Addressing the gathering, the originator of the event, Director of the Metro Centre for National Culture, Mr Ebenezer Ackom, noted that, “the modest success of planning among collaborators has encouraged us to institutionalise the first Visual Art Festival as an annual event.”
“The rationale of the festival is aimed at motivating young artist and highlighting the importance of studying visual art and its effect on the socio-economic development of the country.” he said.
Mr Ackom underscored the important roles art played in preserving the culture of a people, hence the introduction of the visual Art festival to appreciation the art form.
Expressing his gratitude to partners and sponsors, Mr Ackom hoped the event would grow bigger and better in subsequent years.
On behalf of the Acting Metro Chief Executive of Sekondi-Takoradi, (STMA), Mr Kobby Okyere Darko- Mensah, the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mr John Buckman, urged Ghanaians to adopt a non-partisan national art policy to serve as a road map for conscious rapid development of the visual art.
The policy, he stated, must provide a clear direction in the training and development of artistic workforce with imagination, intellectual ability and inventive skills to provide the needs of the country.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Sekondi
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.
