News
Use multi-dimensional approach to tackle poverty – Prof. Kumi Boateng
The Dean of the Faculty of Planning and Quality Assurance, at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) at Tarkwa in the Western Region, Professor Bernard Kumi-Boateng, says a multi-dimen¬sional approach is key to analyse data to tackle Ghana’s poverty divide.
Prof. Kumi-Boateng made the dec¬laration at a lecture at UMaT, on the topic ‘Mapping the poor in Ghana: A geospatial multi-dimensional poverty index approach.’
Prof. Kumi-Boateng said that, accurate data provided a very good platform for planning and implemen¬tation of poverty alleviation pro¬grammes.
He said poverty issues had gained the attention of policymakers, academics and non-governmental or-ganisations, adding that, successive governments, over the years, had developed and implemented sever¬al development policy frameworks for poverty reduction, such as the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy 1, School Feeding Programme and the Capitation Grant.
However, he noted that the country was still faced with several poverty-related challenges, includ¬ing high levels of inequality, low human development, and regional disparities.
He said, the most recent data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) showed there was a decline in poverty levels across the nation, and that, the international poverty rate was estimated at 20.5 per cent of the population in 2022.
He also revealed that in 2023, an estimated 2.9 million people in Gha¬na were living in extreme poverty, majority being male with 1.5 million of the number living on less than 1.9 dollars daily.
“In many developing countries, such as Ghana, the definition of pov ¬erty remains rooted in questionable assumptions, with the use of income as a determinant. It is problematic; it does not provide a full picture of the command of resources that an individual or household possesses,” Prof Kumi-Boateng said.
He explained that, using a multi-faceted approach, could de¬termine the number of children who go to school, people with drinking water, and child mortality, reveal¬ing that, “we have the capability to map them to help policymakers and target areas which are endemic.”
He, therefore, called on the poli¬cymakers not to assume that Accra was rich, because most indicators on overcrowding and drinking water showed “Accra is multi-dimensional¬ly poor.”
He urged policy analysts not to always think about income as the single source to determine those who were poor or rich.
The five northern regions record¬ed the highest poverty incidence ranging from 65 per cent to 80 per cent with poverty head counts (inci¬dence) in Volta Region, also remain¬ing high (52 per cent).
From Clement Adzei Boye, Tarkwa
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.
