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Tourism Ministry and Ghana Tourism Authority Donate PPE’s to Industry Players
The Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Hon. Mrs. Barbara Oteng-Gyasi today, 23rd April 2020 on behalf of the government of Ghana has made its 4th donation of essential equipment to fight against COVID-19 to the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) and tourism industry players.
Today’s donation was made to Travel Trade Associations under GHATOF being Traditional Caterers Association, Indigenous Caterers Association, Ghana National Association of Drinking Bars (GHABOA), and the National Drinking Bar Association (NADBOA).
Items donated include 2000 pieces of Veronica buckets, 2000 plastic handwashing bowls, 24 boxes of hand sanitizers, 80 boxes of nose masks, 10,000 pieces of hand gloves, 32 boxes of liquid soaps, 160 packs of tissue paper.
GTA launches ‘Stay Home, Know Ghana’ Campaign to engage public
Ghana Tourism Authority under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has launched a new campaign dubbed #StayHomeKnowGhana to engage and educate Ghanaians during this period of COVID-19.
The campaign themed: ‘Stay Home, Know Ghana’, seeks to educate, engage and entertain Ghanaians on Ghana’s tourism products during their stay home. The campaign is also aimed at providing education on COVID-19 preventive and precautionary measures to keep people informed.
Speaking at radio launches on six (6) FM station across the country, officers of the organisation namely Head of Public Relations, Jones Nelson, Ben Anane Nsiah (Head of Product Development) and Collins Ackwerh (Principal Marketing Officer/Head of Digital Marketing) all said the main objective of the campaign is to encourage Ghanaians to not only stay home but to kill their boredom by getting to know more about Ghana, engage in fun games and trivia question so they can acquire knowledge and look forward to visiting these sites after the pandemic.
“This campaign is to engage, educate and entertain Ghanaians as they stay home, as directed by His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo in order to stop the spread of the COVID-19. We don’t want Ghanaians to be bored at home, so we introduced this campaign to promote the stay home agenda whiles entertaining and educating Ghanaians,” they said.
The Ghana Tourism Authority is thus appealing to Ghanaians to obey the orders to stay at home and abide by the safety and precautionary measures as directed to help stop the spread of the COVID-19. They outlined some of the measures as ‘wash hands regularly with soap under running water and sanitize as well with an alcohol-based sanitizer’.
Read also: Ghana Tourism Authority to educate Ghanaians with StayHomeKnowGhana initiative
The Ghana Tourism Authority has over the years introduced innovative ways of engaging and promoting tourism in Ghana. The #StayHomeKnowGhana campaign is one of such efforts to showcase and promote the Culture, Warmth, and Rhythm of the country.
To participate, the general public is urged to visit visitghana.com as we follow the GTA social media handle @VisitGhanaNow across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to participate in the various activities.
Activities for the ‘Stay Home, Know Ghana’ campaign include: Social Media Contests (Pictionary contest, Know Ghana & Eat Ghana contest, Stay Home, Wear Ghana contest), Radio contests, social media challenges among others. Participants of the campaign will be rewarded with gifts, souvenirs, cash prizes, etc.
The campaign is expected to run until the end of May.
Ghana Tourism Authority educates Ghanaians with Stay Safe, Know Ghana initiative
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has launched the Stay Safe, Know Ghana initiative in a bid to educate Ghanaians amid the coronavirus crisis.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has launched the Stay Safe Know Ghana initiative.
Stay Home Know Ghana initiative
A follow-up of the Stay Home Know Ghana initiative, that seeks to inform, educate and entertain Ghanaians as we stay home to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Speaking about the initiative on Happy FM’s Happy Morning Show, with Samuel Eshun was the Head of Public Relations at GTA, Jones Nelson, “With the Stay Safe, Know Ghana campaign, one can log onto our platform visitghana.com, and to know more about tourist sites we have in Ghana. The campaign will last till the end of COVID-19 and we have drawn an extensive program for that. We have designed some packages to prevent boredom and have prizes to give out to participants through the various radio and social media contests that we will run,” he said.
Stay Safe Know Ghana
According to him, the campaign was launched by the GTA in partnership with the Ministries of Communication and Information, and a virtual application was also launched to support the initiative.Outlining some of the online contests that will help citizens see Ghana in a digital lens from any part of the country and also curb boredom in an adventurous way, Jones said,”Participants will win prizes by correctly identifying images of attractions, Ghanaian symbols (adinkra) and artifacts on the social media platforms of the GTA. The Stay Safe, Eat Ghana contest will also require participants to share pictures of different Ghanaian dishes they have tasted, where the ones with most comments or likes & retweets win cash prizes or airtime,” he said.
COVID-19 in Ghana
With the outbreak of the COVID-19 in Ghana and the closure of our borders, the tourism industry has grinded to a complete halt with some other sectors of the economy suffering losses.
Celebrities and Politicians Testing Positive
The virus, obviously, sees no difference between the rich and the poor, as even some celebrities and politicians have tested positive.
Closure of Hospitality centres
Restaurants and beaches, among other hospitality centers, are now allowed to operate, but are bound to see a depreciation in profit rate, as they cannot operate as effectively as would have in normal times.
Many plans for huge events have also been forced down the drain, with others that were already scheduled for later in the year, praying scared in all anticipation that the virus will vanish before time and profits will not be lost.
Beyond the Return
The Beyond the Return initiative, of the GTA, for instance, is likely to be ineffective this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19: GTA Educating Ghanaians
However, the Ghana Tourism Authority is not being beat down by the pandemic, but rather, is leveraging on this opportunity to educate and revive the interest of Ghanaians in the industry while in the comfort of their homes.
Stay Safe Know Ghana Engaging the Public
The Ghana Tourism Authority has over the years introduced innovative ways of engaging and promoting tourism in Ghana. The #StayHomeKnowGhana campaign is one of such efforts to showcase and promote the Culture, Warmth, and Rhythm of the country.
To participate, the general public is urged to visit visitghana.com as we follow the GTA social media handle @VisitGhanaNow across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to participate in the various activities.
Chefs Association launch project ‘Cooking to save lives’ to feed frontlines fighting COVID-19
The Chefs Association has launched a project to feed frontlines fighting against COVID-19. this was made known at a presentation at the Accra Tourist Information Centre. Chefs Association has set up four (4) industrial kitchens to cook for front-line staff fighting COVID-19.
Chefs Association has pledged to provide 1,000 packs of food for the next 2 weeks. Chef Issac, President of the Association said that the project “Cooking to Save lives” seeks to cook 1,000 packs of food for the security agencies and another 1000 for Medical personnel. They are ready, and with the needed resources can feed up to 10,000 people daily. Presented 400 packed meals ahead of providing 1000 packs daily beginning Wednesday, April 1, 2020.
In her remark, Madam Bella Ahu, Mad. Bella Ahu called for support for the Association who she says has the capability to cook for the vulnerable across the country.
The Minister of Tourism, Hon. Barbara Oteng Gyasi appreciated the gesture of Chefs Association and on behalf of the Ministry and it’s agencies, represented by Ghana Tourism Authority presented food items such as rice and oil saying the Ministry was going to support the initiative with cash and items worth GHS 100,000.00. The Deputy Minister of Tourism thanked the Association for their initiative and remarked that they have become the shining star in times of need.
Mr. Freeman Tettey of the Ghana Police service and member of the COVID-19 operation team received the items on behalf of the Frontliners expressing appreciation for the thought and gesture.
The Minister in her closing remarks said she was going to seek further support of the private sector urged the Association to consider the vulnerable in society in these times. #stayhome #COVID_19 #covid #CoronavirusUpdate #SeeGhana #FeelGhana #LockdownGhana #StayAtHome #COVID19 #TheLockdown #supportsmallbusiness #supportlocal
GTA Orders Closure Of Beaches
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture ( MOTAC), the Ghana Tourism Authority ( GTA) would like to remind the public about the Government’s directives suspending all public gatherings.
In this regard, the GTA hereby orders all beaches to be closed to the public until further notice. The GTA with the support of National Security and the Ghana Police Service will begin patrols of the beaches from Tuesday 24th March 2020, to ensure compliance with the closure order.
The general public and tourist business operators are urged to be mindful of the precautionary measures announced by the President of the Republic to fight the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Issued by GTA
Paragliding and Other Tourism Events Suspended
Following the directives of the President of the Republic of Ghana banning all public gatherings, the Ghana Tourism Authority wishes to inform the General Public that the Annual Kwahu Paragliding Festival, 2020 has been called off with immediate effect.
All those who have registered and paid to participate in the Paragliding festival should contact the following for further directives: 0244161585 and email on info@visitghana.com.
In addition, all Regional Tourism and the National Tourism Awards slated between March and April have been postponed until further notice. The Authority will announce new dates and schedules for these events when the situation normalizes.
We apologize for the inconvenience caused and kindly entreat all and sundry to adhere to the precautionary measures which have been put in place by the Government of Ghana through the Ghana Health Service to prevent the spread of COVID -19.
Please call the Ghana Health Service hotlines on 0558439868/ 0509497700 for assistance.
Don’t be scared, just take care.
Thank you.
ISSUED BY THE GHANA TOURISM AUTHORITY.
In a related matter, The CITI TV / CITI FM Heritage Month Events have also been called off. Also all activities linked to the Kwahu Easter celebration have been called off.
GTA Hosts Bozoma and Delegation From Endeavor Group
Saturday, March 7, 2020
The Ghana Tourism Authority received delegates from Endeavor, a leading company in Media and Entertainment, last week to facilitate discussions focused on business opportunities available within the Ghanaian entertainment industry.
The Chief Marketing Officer, Bozoma Saint John who led the delegation had previously worked on other projects during the Year of Return 2019.
“I felt the need to bring my company and its expertise to Ghana to understand the business opportunities especially within the media and entertainment space” Bozoma said this during an interaction with media about the purpose of her team’s meeting with local Creative industry stakeholders in Ghana.
She stated that the meeting was aligned partly with her personal desire to bridge the divide between Ghanaian local content producers and the global entertainment market saying, “It’s partly a personal pursuit given the work I have done on the Year of Return and now, Beyond the Return, but how do I turn this into a business opportunity for the artistes’ community that is here in Ghana,”
Bozoma added that Endeavor Group is interested in exploring the commercial viability of digitizing content and entertainment platform distribution using digital space over the more traditional methods especially used in the U.S and U.K.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman pointed out that Beyond the Return campaign included in its objectives a greater call to action for investments and business opportunities within the country, thus the purpose of Endeavor executives tied in greatly with future aspirations for the Beyond the Return.
“We’ve started this time with the creative arts as the first point of call. We have Bozoma and the Endeavor Group in town and we felt this is the perfect opportunity to start that conversation around building some collaboration between them.”
The discussions included actors, music producers, film directors and producers, musicians, event organisers, among others and focused on areas such as merchandising, events, copyrights, production, literary works and others works within the media and entertainment landscape of Ghana.
Ghana’s creative arts “thriving”; “our kente now African identity symbol” – Akufo-Addo
President Nana Akufo-Addo has said Ghana’s creative arts industry is thriving.
Speaking at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium at the 63rd independence anniversary celebration in Kumasi, Ashanti Region on Friday, 6 March 2020, the President said: “The creative arts are thriving, and there are exciting things to interest a wide range of people”.
The fashion scene, he said, “is vibrant, and unearths new talent every day”.
“Take a look around this stadium today, and feast your eyes on the riot of colours and the wide variety of styles that our kente weavers can conjure.
“Every day, this ancient, royal, eye-catching, beautiful fabric is reinvented to win over new generations. The kente, of course, has crossed over our borders and is no longer exclusively Ghanaian, but the symbol of identity for peoples of African descent everywhere”, the President noted.
He observed that: “Our designers, tailors, and dressmakers keep Ghanaian-made clothes in the top range of attractive clothes”, adding: “Art galleries are alive with established and new painters and sculptors, and there are signs of their innovative works all around us”.
“We have always been known for musical talent, and this generation is keeping up the tradition”.
The President also urged Ghanaians to keep being Ghanaian in this election year.
“Fellow Ghanaians, there is renewed confidence in our foods and a strong belief in the things that define us as Ghanaians. We have always been known for arguments and debates, and, in an election year, it is predictable that the decibel level would go up. That is what we are currently experiencing, but, as the saying goes, even as the arguments get louder, we keep a keen lookout for each other’s eyes.
“There is an Akan proverb that says: ‘Omanni ko, y3ko a, y3keka nwi so; yenntutu ase?’. When we fight as members of a community or family, we bite off hair; we do not uproot it. In other words, in our gravest moments of fury, we strive to avoid bloodshed.
“The consensus is holding for all of us to work towards the prosperous, peaceful and happy Ghana we want. We all recognise that the responsibility we carry as the first sub-Saharan colonial country to gain independence is not simply to build a successful country. We owe it to the rest of the continent and the black race to demonstrate that, indeed, we can build and run a successful, prosperous and happy country. This is a task we do not shirk, and which all Ghanaians accept”, he said.
Source: Ghana Today online
2nd Annual Attorney General Alliance Africa Conference Held in Ghana
A Cocktail Reception at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra on Monday March 2, 2020 officially launched the 2nd Annual Attorney General Alliance Africa Conference. Dr. Ziblim Iddi Barri, The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, welcomed the group of U.S. Attorney Generals who travelled to Ghana for the conference by saying a few words. “It’s a privilege and an honour for us to host you,” he said. “I hope all of you who are here for the first time enjoy.” He took a moment to congratulate everyone for coming to Ghana and commended them for being elected to their positions.
Karl A. Racine, Attorney General of District of Columbia was given the floor to speak and he invited all his attorney general peers to join him and introduce themselves as well. Denise N. George, Attorney General U.S. Virgin Islands, Aaron Forde, Attorney General for Nevada, Keith Ellison, Attorney General for Minnesota, Letitia James, Attorney General for New York and Kwame Raoul, Attorney General for Illinois were all very excited to be in Accra for the conference.
Racine made everyone aware how important it is that this many African Americans were holding such positions in the U.S. “In 2014-2015, in the United States of America there was exactly one African American, black prosecutor, Attorney General in the United states,” he said. Kamala Harris, former Attorney General for California, was leaving her position when he was coming into his. He went on to say that now there has been an improvement as more African Americans are holding positions as Attorney Generals. “That doesn’t happen by accident,” he said, “…Each of these individuals fought really hard for the right to serve their jurisdictions.”
Karen White, Executive Director of the AGA, was excited to be there to network and work with Ghana towards coming up with solutions to some of the issues that the conference will address. The AGA Africa Conference is primarily focused on tackling transcontinental crime. Issues including human trafficking, counterfeit medicines, cybersecurity and money laundering crosses continents. These are important concerns they can all work together on battling.
Their commitment to working together for a positive outcome was felt and the event is certainly poised to deliver positive results. Information on the organisation can be found on their website on www.AGAafrica.org.
Written by Ivy Prosper
Ghana is ready to build bridges of cooperation – GTA assures AGA -Africa delegates
The CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Akwasi Agyeman joined six State Attorneys of the United States to assure them of his outfit’s cooperation in ensuring, among other things, safe, secure and responsible travel.
He was part of a panel discussion on “Beyond the Return” during the Attorney General Alliance (AGA – AFRICA) Conference currently ongoing at the Kempinski Gold Coast City Hotel.
Prior to the panel discussion, the CEO delivered a presentation on the “Beyond the Return” project which is geared towards sustaining the gains of the “Year of Return.”
He made mention of pillars of support for the project which include; Investments, Heritage Sites improvements, Branding Ghana, Birthright Journeys amongst others.
The six State Attorneys include; Letitia James, AG – New York, Karl Racine, AG – Washington, DC, Denise George, AG – Virgin Islands, Keith Ellison, AG – Minnesota, Aaron Ford, AG – Nevada, Kwame Raoul, AG – Illinois
The two days international conference organised by the Attorney General Alliance (AGA – Africa), a US – based organisation, is on the theme: “Tackling the reality of transnational crime in Africa – Cross border solutions and international cooperation”.
The Ghana Tourism Authority will on March 5th, sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the AGA to tackle issues of Responsible Tourism and jointly promote objectives of Beyond the Return.
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