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Tour Operators Union of Ghana wraps up 15th nationwide tour with “Journey to the West”
The Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA) has concluded its 15th nationwide tour, dubbed, “Journey to the West,” aimed at unravelling the hidden gems of Ghana’s Western Region.
From March 20 to 23, members embarked on a voyage of exploration, discovering the region’s rich cultural heritage and scenic landscapes.
The journey commenced with visits to historic landmarks such as Fort Batenstein and Fort San Antonio De Axim, where participants delved into Ghana’s colonial past while soaking in the coastal charm of the region.
Day two unfolded with immersive encounters at Nzulezu Village, where the operators engaged with local communities residing on stilts, gaining insights into their traditional way of life.
Exploring Fort Appolonia provided a glimpse into the architectural legacy of colonial rule, adding layers of historical context to the excursion.
In adherence to TOUGHA’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Mrs. Alisa Osei-Asamoah led a charitable initiative, donating essential items and funds to the Nzema Manle Child and Vulnerable Care Centre at Awiebo, underscoring the union’s dedication to supporting local communities.
The tour culminated in Takoradi, the regional capital, with a poignant visit to Nkroful, the birthplace of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Amidst reflections on Nkrumah’s legacy, participants were treated to a dinner hosted by the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, fostering dialogue on the region’s tourism prospects.
In his interaction with the operators, the Minister commended them for taking the initiative to visit the region as he touted the area as a leading domestic tourism haven.
He assured them of working closely with TOUGHA to promote and sell the Western Region’s diverse tourism offerings, maintaining that not only is it true that “the best comes from the West,” but “the best is in the West.”
“This tour marks another milestone in our ongoing mission to showcase Ghana’s diverse tourism offerings,” Mrs. Alisa Osei-Asamoah, President of TOUGHA said.
She added, “With each excursion, we strive to unearth unique experiences while fostering domestic tourism and enriching the itineraries we offer to our clients.”
Commenting on the tour’s significance, Mrs. Alisa Osei-Asamoah remarked, “Our visit to the Western Region has been both enlightening and inspiring. We leave with a renewed appreciation for Ghana’s cultural heritage and a commitment to crafting unforgettable experiences for travellers seeking to explore this captivating region.”
Joining TOUGHA were representatives of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) who were key partners of the four-day tour. They included Deputy CEO – Operations, Ekow Sampson, Naa Ashiorkor Otoo, Public Private Partnership Secretariat, Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi, Deputy Director, Domestic Marketing.
Mr. Ekow Sampson commended TOUGHA for embracing the Authority’s “See Ghana, Share Ghana” campaign to advance the domestic tourism agenda.
As TOUGHA members return from their “Journey to the West,” anticipation builds for the unveiling of enticing travel packages that showcase the Western Region’s treasures, inviting adventurers to embark on their odyssey through Ghana’s cultural and tourism heartland.
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Swedru All Blacks back to winning ways, Roshan humble King Faisal
Sekondi Rospak FC made it eight wins in eight successive home games after three second-half goals from John Amoah, Joseph Ntow and Stephen Anthony Kofi. John Amoah opened the scoring in the 55th minute after a barren first half. Joseph Ntow added to the tally in the 56th minute before Stephen Anthony Kofi rounded things up in the 74th minute to give Rospak a 3-0 win over former Premier League side King Faisal.
Elsewhere at Swedru – leaders Swedru All Blacks humbled PAC Academy in an emphatic 2-0 win. Zayat Bubakari scored first for Swedru All Blacks in the 27th minute before Rudolf Junior Nana Kwasi Mensah made it 2-0 in the 34th minute. Swedru All Blacks are top of the table with 36 points – 4 points ahead of second placed Rospak FC.
Meanwhile, Former Premier League side Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs recorded their fourth successive home victory after beaten New Edubiase United 2-1 at the Robert Mensah Park. Enoch Odoom struck first for Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs in the 19th minute but Steven Asante equalized for New Edubiase United before halftime. After the interval, Godfred Eshun scored from distance in the 65th minute to help Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs secure all the points.
Here are the results in Zone Two
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Cervical Cancer alert: Avoid sex at early age
The Programmes Manager of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Mary Efua Commeh, has advised young girls to avoid sex at an early age.
This, she explained, will give the cervix the opportunity to mature before they become sexually active.
“You need to delay what we call the first sexual intercourse as much as possible to give the cervix the opportunity to mature before the person becomes sexually active,” she said.
Dr Commeh stated this in an interview with The Spectator in Accra on Tuesday as a part of the Cervical Cancer awareness month.
According to her, cervical cancer was the second leading female cancer in Ghana with a total of about 3,072 cases annually, and out of that, 1,815 deaths are recorded, representing more than 50 per cent.
She indicated that “If young girls are going to be sexually active, then you need to talk to your parents about being vaccinated.”
She explained that vaccinating young girls against human papillomavirus (HPV) has been found to be a very effective way of preventing cervical cancer.
“There are countries that started HPV vaccination years ago and they are not seeing any cervical cancers now because they would have eliminated most of the high-risk HPVs in their women. So if the high-risk HPV is not there, then obviously the results on cervical cancers are going to go down,” she added.
Dr Commmey said the HPV vaccination is recommended for young girls aged nine to 14 years, adding that it had been found to be highly effective, not just for cervical cancers but for other HPV-related cancers, such as anal cancers, cancers of the vagina, genital warts, amongst others.
She further elaborated that the idea is to put up a barrier before the HPV comes in and that once a young female encounters it, she is already protected.
She also mentioned that for cervical cancers, the main cause is called HPV infection, saying generally, all sexually active women acquire HPV at some point in their lives.
However, the Programmes Manager of NCDs at the GHS mentioned that the body has a way of clearing the HPV, explaining that it is a natural mechanism that goes on, unfortunately, there are a few women whose HPV persists.
Moreover, she noted that the numbers for Cervical Cancer tend to be much higher because at times, clients would wait, and try all sorts of medications before they finally report to the health facility saying “we actually lose some women before they get to the hospitals with over 75 per cent of the cases coming in its third and fourth stages.”
Dr Commey, therefore, called for public awareness while ensuring the availability of information for prevention and control.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
