News
Center for National Culture holds competition for schools, institutions in Eastern Region
The Centre for National Culture in the Eastern Region in collaboration with ONGA has organised a cooking competition for some selected Senior High Schools in the region.
The schools were paired with some public organisations to display their skills in the preparation of local dishes such as “motuo ne nkatekwan”(rice balls with groundnut soup), waakye with shito, “mpotompoto”, “tatale ne kontomire”, “apapransa ne koto”, “brode3 ampesie ne kontomire”, “tatale ne adua abomu”, “tuo zaafi ne ayoyo nkwan,” among others.
At the end of the competition, Seventh-Day Adventist Senior High School paired with the Department of Agriculture emerged winners. New Juaben SHS and the Information Service Department (ISD) who prepared mpotompoto came second, whereas Bright SHS and the Ghana Immigration Service placed third after preparing “Tatale ne adua abomu”.
The others, Pentecost SHS and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) were fourth, Ghana SHS and the Ghana National Fire Service placed fifth, Oyoko Methodist SHS and the Ghana Revenue Authority were sixth while Ofori Panyin SHS and the Department of Gender, Children and Social Protection placed seventh in the competition.
The Municipal Chief Executive of New Juaben South Municipality, Mr. Isaac Apaw Gyesi urged the MDA’s to liaise with the Centre for National Culture in their respective districts to initiate programmes and activities to promote the cultural heritage of the country at all times.
He said that local foods and local language as part of Ghanaian culture “defines our identity at all times while it associates with a variety of health benefits, therefore I want to encourage Ghanaians to prioritise our local language and consume our respective local foods and products”.
He added that different varieties of food were associated with the ethnic groups across the regions of Ghana.
For his part, the Director of Policy Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Commission for National Culture, Mr. Phil Richardson Commey underscored the need for Ghanaians to patronise locally manufactured goods and services to minimise the importation of foreign products into the country.
He said research had shown that local foods were much healthier for the human body compared with the imported foods which were the cause of the number of present diseases which were initially not found in the country.
He encouraged Ghanaians to cultivate the habit of backyard farming, a move he believed, would help promote the consumption of local foods in the country.
Mr. Commey urged the Ghana Education Service to revise the education curriculum by prioritising agriculture to promote the interest of local food consumption.
The contestants received certificates of participation and products from ONGA foods.
From: Kodjo David, Koforidua.
News
National Service Authority to Introduce Military Training
Management of the National Service Authority, yesterday, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, held talks with the Military High Command towards the implementation of the National Service Emergency Response Readiness Programme (NSERRP).
When implemented, this will reflect His Excellency the President’s commitment towards the implementation of a short military training for National Service Personnel (NSPs) as planned efforts to instill discipline, nationalism and physical fitness among Ghanaian graduates.
The President shared this position during his maiden State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday February 27, 2025.
At yesterday ’s meeting, the Director-General, Mr. Felix Gyamfi reiterated the need for all personnel to undergo basic military drills and orientation as part of orienting the youth to embrace national development.
“The introduction of this military training is a step in the right direction and must be embraced by all and sundry as one of the indicators for resetting the country, particularly the youth,” he commented.
On his part, Brigadier General Amoah-Boakye assured the Authority of their willingness to provide the requisite training for personnel when the Programme officially commences.
In all, personnel will receive up to two months of composite basic military drills starting 3rd August, 2025.
News
Ghana Tourism Authority acts on concerns of minors allegedly taken to Hotel in Accra New Town.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has taken swift action following reports circulating on social media regarding an incident involving minors allegedly taken to a hotel in Accra New Town.
The case has been formally reported to the Nima Division of the Ghana Police Service for investigation.
In line with their mandate to ensure safety and compliance in the tourism and hospitality sector, our CEO Mrs.Maame Efua Houadjeto delegated a team from the GTA Head Office, Mr. Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey, Deputy CEO, Special Duties and Mr Ekow Sampson, Deputy CEO, Operations who joined the Greater Accra Regional Director, Ms. Roberta Dawson-Amoah, and the Deputy Director of Marketing, Ms. Clara Nketiah, to visit the said facility.
The objective was to verify the facts on the ground and take necessary regulatory action.
They commended the Ghana Police Service for their co-operation and continued support in the ongoing investigation.
Additionally, the team inspected Royal Dede Beach Resort, which has been converted into a hostel under new management without official notification to the Ghana Tourism Authority.
The team discovered that the hostel’s operations were not in compliance with the L. I 2239. Meanwhile the operator has been directed to the Standards and Quality Assurance Department of the Authority for the necessary regulation.
“We remind all accommodation operators that the Tourism(Registration and Licensing of Accommodation) Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2239) mandates every facility to register and obtain a license from the GTA before commencing operations.
This regulation ensures quality, safety, and compliance across the industry,” they noted.
The GTA they said, remains committed to safeguarding the public and upholding the highest standards in the hospitality sector and urged
the public to report suspicious or non-compliant facilities to the nearest GTA office.
