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Creative arts inspire God-given talents – UEW Pro-VC
● Some dignitaries after the event
It is necessary for the country to give critical attention to the creative arts sector due to its important role in national transformation and development, Prof. Andy Ofori-Birikorang, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, (UEW), has said.
“If we want the country to grow, we must pay attention to the creative arts industry. It creates and reveals inner mind and joy,” he stressed.
He again said: “Creative arts inspire people to unearth their God-given talents and it is beneficial to the community.”
Prof Ofori-Birikorang said these at the opening of the Creative Arts Conference organised by the School of Creative Arts (SCA), in collaboration with the Centre for Research, Culture, and Creative Arts, University of Education, Winneba (UEW) last Friday.
The conference was on the theme: “Re-developing Creative Arts Education Policy and Research for Sustainable Industrial Development.”
It offered an opportunity for participants to deliberate on how to strengthen the promotion of arts education in Ghana.
Prof Ofori-Birikorang stated that the School of Creative Arts Education existed to train competent professional teachers for all levels of education as well as conduct research, disseminate knowledge and contribute to educational policy and development.
“If we want to brand this university, we must pay attention to the School of Creative Arts. The creative arts industry inspires us to do things, and it is only through this inspiration that we get the energy of creativity,” he said.
In an address, the Dean of the SCA, Prof. PatriquedeGraft-Yankson, stated that recognition was currently being given to arts in Ghana through different interventions and training for a number of individuals across the country.
He commended President Akufo-Addo led administration for its support for the creative arts sector since it took power in 2017.
The Dean again praised the university for its commitment towards making the conference an annual event and said the school would be orgainising series of formal, informal and academic discussions among staff, peers and students.
According to Prof deGraft-Yankson, the formal and informal training attitudes and proficiencies needed to make the arts an important tool for defining and planning result-oriented human activities for quality living, were lacking.
He, therefore, stressed the need for the country to adopt a thoughtful and conscious involvement in the creative arts educational policies and research for progress.
The Director of Creative Arts Council, Ms. GyankromaAkufo-Addo, underscored the important role of arts education towards the skills of individuals such as critical thinking, and called for support in that regard.
She called on all the sundry to support and encourage children who demonstrate interest in the arts to pursue their passion and unearth their talents.
From David O. Yarboi-Tetteh, Winneba
News
Minister of Health appeals to Tamale Teaching Hospital striking doctors
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has appealed to the striking doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) to calll off the suspension and come to the negotiation table.
However, he refused to apologise as demanded by the striking doctors.
The doctors after a meeting yesterday have withdrawn emergency services following the dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital.
This follows an unannounced visit to the hospital by the Minister on Tuesday.
The Minister made the appeal when addressing the media in Accra on Today, April 24 2025.
According to him, dialogue is the only way out to resolve the issue, adding that he was ready collaborate with them.
“I am prepared for us to come around the table and discuss whatever we need to discuss,” Mr Akandoh said.
“My humble appeal to my wonderful medical doctors and health professionals at Tamale Teaching Hospital is that I am the first person to take care of your interests. Therefore, let’s call off the strike and let’s all regroup and strategise going forward,” he concluded.
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Health Minister donates medical equipment to Tamale Teaching Hospital, pledges commitment to reforms
The Minister for Health Kwabena Miintah Akandoh has reiterated government’s commitment to address long-standing challenges in the health sector, describing the health system as one that requires urgent reform and collective responsibility.
He made these remarks during a donation of some essential medical equipment and supplies to the Tamale Teaching Hospital on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
The donation included a wide range of equipment such as ECG machines, ICU ventilators, cardiac monitors, anesthesia machines, infant incubators, and essential
Consumables amounting to about 35 items.
Among the items highlighted were
Emergency Health Equipment (EHE) sets, nebulizer sets, and medical-grade towels.
The Health Minister acknowledged the difficult working conditions health professionals continue to endure and emphasized that government efforts alone would not be enough to resolve systemic issues.
He called for unity across the health sector and urged all stakeholders, including medical doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, to work together to ensure that the country’s limited resources are used efficiently.
He noted that the wellbeing of the ordinary Ghanaian should be central to healthcare delivery, cautioning against practices that marginalize the underprivileged due to resource scarcity. According to him, every Ghanaian life is valuable, and the system must reflect that belief in both policy and practice.
Mr.Akandoh stressed that his leadership approach is rooted in humility, collaboration, and respect for all health workers. While acknowledging that change may come with challenges, he maintained that cooperation is key to achieving lasting improvements in the sector.
The Minister pleaded with health professionals in the Tamale Teaching Hospital to call off the strike and regroup to strategize on more effective ways to address their concerns through dialogue and collaboration with relevant authorities.
The donation to the Tamale Teaching Hospital forms part of a broader national initiative to modernize medical infrastructure and enhance service delivery in Ghana’s healthcare.
