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World Clubfoot Day: GIS students paint foot braces for clubfoot children in Ghana
Students of the Art Club of the Ghana International School (GIS) in Accra have participated in a “Paint a Brace” initiative as part of activities to commemorate this year’s World Clubfoot Day on June 3, 2023.
This initiative led by the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and Hope Walks, a non-governmental organisation, was to put a smile on the faces of children receiving treatment for clubfoot at various facilities in the country.
Some of the braces designed by the pupils
Clubfoot is a range of foot abnormalities usually present at birth in which a baby’s foot is twisted out of shape or position.
With the guidance of teachers and the team from CHAG and Hopes for Life, the art students actively participated in the project and came up with colorful footbraces last Wednesday in Accra.
Mrs. Nana Afua Adutwumwaa Adjetey, Programme Manager, CHAG/Hope Walks Clubfoot Project, said the collaboration was to create clubfoot awareness and treatment.
“About one in 1,000 babies born in Ghana have the deformity. Because the cause is largely unknown, the disease is considered a curse with the belief that the babies are “river babies” or “dwarf babies.”
“These beliefs and the high stigma associated with the deformity force some families to abandon their children,” she said, adding that the disease was treatable and about 8,000 children had received treatment since 2008.
Treatment for clubfoot comes in two stages.
The Corrective Phase involves a series of manipulation, casting, and tenotomy (minor surgical procedure).
The Maintenance Phase involves wearing of foot abduction brace. At this stage, a clubfoot child wears the brace to maintain the correction achieved till age five.
In the first three months, the child wears the brace for 23 hours a day. The brace is taken off during bath time and exercise (stretches) is done for the baby’s foot. After three months, the child wears the braces during the night and nap time till age five to avoid clubfoot relapse or re-occurrence.
CHAG and Hope Walks urged individuals and institutions to replicate the project and support children with clubfoot.
By Ernest Nutsugah
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.
