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Tourism minister urges innovation as Ghana Hotels Association marks 50th anniversary
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ablah Dzifa Gomashie, has called on hoteliers to embrace innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation to strengthen Ghana’s hospitality sector.
She made the call in a Facebook post after joining members of the Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) on Friday to mark the Association’s 50th anniversary at the Ridge Royal Hotel in Cape Coast.
The event was held under the theme “50 Years of Advocacy, Perseverance, and Impacting Ghana’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry.”
Dzifa Gomashie commended the Association for its significant contribution to Ghana’s tourism growth over the past five decades, describing its journey as a story of “vision, resilience, partnership, and values.”
She noted that the GHA has served as a vital bridge between government, regulators, and industry players, helping to shape policies, improve service standards, and sustain operations through economic and global challenges.
“The hospitality industry remains the backbone of Ghana’s tourism ecosystem, providing not just rooms but experiences that form the first and last impressions of visitors to the country,” she stated.
The minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to partnering with the private sector to build a resilient and competitive hospitality industry.
She urged hoteliers to support the national campaign against indiscriminate littering and illegal mining, known as galamsey.
The minister outlined several initiatives being undertaken by the ministry and its agencies, including a review of the National Tourism Policy, hospitality training and certification programmes, investment incentive reviews through the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), and destination infrastructure improvement projects.
She further encouraged industry players to adopt eco-friendly practices, renewable energy solutions, and inclusive growth strategies that empower women, youth, and local communities.
Dzifa Gomashie called for stronger collaboration between hotels and other players within the tourism, culture, and creative arts sectors to enhance Ghana’s appeal as a preferred destination.
The celebration brought together hotel owners, government officials, and tourism stakeholders to reflect on the achievements of the past 50 years and explore ways to sustain the growth of Ghana’s hospitality industry.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Mrs Patience Antonio, a Child and Family Development Advocate, has called for a national campaign to reduce the growing reliance on breast milk substitutes among nursing mothers in Ghana.
According to Mrs Antonio, scientific evidence shows that breastfeeding improves a child’s emotional stability, boosts intelligence, strengthens the immune system, and provides long-term health benefits. She made these remarks in an interview with The Spectator in Accra last week, emphasizing the importance of breastfeeding for a child’s overall development.
She explained that breastfeeding is not just a biological act of feeding but a key emotional and developmental bridge between mother and child. She also highlighted the need for the recommended six-month maternity leave period to ease the pressure on mothers to return to work prematurely.
“Breastfeeding creates intimacy and trust. It assures the baby of love and security, which becomes the foundation for their emotional health,” Mrs Antonio noted, warning that abandoning exclusive breastfeeding could have long-term implications on children’s social and emotional wellbeing.
Consequently, she called for a minimum of five months of fully paid maternity leave for Ghanaian mothers to enable effective breastfeeding, bonding, and healthier child development. She also urged workplaces to implement family-friendly policies, including private spaces for breastfeeding, flexible working arrangements for nursing mothers, and stronger support systems for new parents.
Mrs Antonio further encouraged families and society to actively support mothers during breastfeeding, stressing that many women struggle due to lack of assistance at home or the pressure to return to work too soon. She emphasized, “If we want a healthier, emotionally stable generation, then we must make breastfeeding a priority and support mothers to do it without stress.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Spectator
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The Nanvili Community School in the Mion District of the Northern Region is facing severe infrastructural challenges, affecting teaching and learning for pupils in the area.
The school, which serves five surrounding communities with a total of 58 pupils, has deteriorated to the extent that many children have stopped attending classes. Poor classroom conditions and the lack of desks have made teaching and learning difficult. During a visit to the school, the gate-free classrooms were found filled with goat and sheep droppings.
During the rainy season, both teachers and pupils are often cut off from the school due to bad roads and flooding. Teaching activities are frequently suspended for weeks, negatively affecting academic performance.
The Assemblyman for the area, Mr. Dawuni Mutawakil, expressed concern, noting that the situation is worrying since these pupils are expected to compete with their counterparts in urban areas who have access to better facilities. He added that due to limited space, classes have been merged, with pupils from Primary One and Two, Three and Four, and Five and Six sharing the same classrooms.
The Chief of Nanvili, Abu Kassim, also appealed to the government and non-governmental organisations to come to the aid of the community. He emphasized that the current state of the school discourages children from nearby communities from attending.
Both the Chief and Assemblyman have called for urgent intervention to improve infrastructure and provide furniture for the pupils to ensure quality education for children in the Nanvili area.
By Geoffrey Buta, Nanvili, Northern Region
Spectator
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