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
President John Dramani Mahama has visited the Akosombo Dam to assess the impact of a fire incident at a substation operated by the Ghana Grid Company.
The fire is reported to have caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts from the national power grid, affecting electricity supply in parts of the country.
During the visit, he inspected ongoing restoration works and received briefings from engineers on efforts to restore power. He commended them for what he described as a swift and professional response to the situation.
According to him, the government remains committed to restoring stable electricity supply as quickly as possible.
He added that steps are also being taken to strengthen the resilience of Ghana’s energy infrastructure to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Ghana Grid Company has not yet provided a detailed timeline for full restoration, but work is ongoing to bring affected systems back on stream.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, says he and his deputy have publicly filed their annual tax returns to demonstrate leadership and encourage compliance among citizens.
In a facebook post, he explained that the move was meant to show that public officials must lead by example when it comes to fulfilling civic duties.
“Leadership must be demonstrated, not declared,” he said.
He commended Ghanaian taxpayers for their continued contribution to national development, noting that tax compliance plays a key role in sustaining government activities.
According to him, paying taxes is both a legal and moral responsibility. He stressed that all citizens, including public officials, professionals, and businesses, are equal before the law and must meet their tax obligations.
He added that tax revenue is essential for funding key sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and security.
The minister praised the Ghana Revenue Authority for its work, especially during the ongoing Tax and Good Governance Month in April. He said the initiative helps to educate the public and promote voluntary compliance.
He urged the authority to intensify public education and continue reforms aimed at simplifying tax processes, reducing compliance costs, and improving transparency.
He further encouraged individuals and businesses that are yet to file their returns to do so promptly, adding that support systems and digital platforms are available to assist them.
He said building a strong tax culture would strengthen the country’s economy, improve accountability, and promote fairness in society.
By: Jacob Aggrey
