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A member of parliament for the good people of Ketu South and Minister for Tourism, culture and arts Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie,
Today, she had the pleasure of honoring three young Ghanaian photographers who were celebrated on at the National Heritage Photo Competition Awards held at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.
I started the ceremony with a moment of silence for the late Highlife legend Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, a true legend whose music became the soundtrack of our lives.
I launched the competition at this years Ghana Culture Day, on the 14th of March, 2025. The competition, was organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts in collaboration with the UNESCO office in Accra. The aim was to inspire the youth under 25 to preserve Ghana’s cultural identity through visual storytelling.
I commended the winners for capturing powerful images that reflect Ghana’s heritage. “You have not only told your own stories, but you have helped to tell Ghana’s story.” The winning photos will be added to the national cultural archive.
Submissions showcased festivals, crafts, historic sites, and rural life and judged on creativity and technical skill. General Arnold Quanoo, once said, “Heritage is not what we inherit by accident, but what we choose to preserve with intention.” We are being intentional in the promotion, preservation and protection of our heritage.
I reaffirmed the government’s commitment, under the leadership of H.E. President John Dramani Mahama, to supporting the youth through arts and culture. The Ghana Dance Ensemble danced for enjoyment. Nana Asase the poet, author, performer and entrepreneur entertained the gathering. Ato Ghartey was our Master of Ceremony.
The event was attended by dignitaries including the High Commissioner of Barbados, the Mexican Ambassador to Ghana, the UNESCO Country Director, representatives from Togo Embassy, Colombia and others.
Awards were presented to overall winner Caleb Vanderpuye (a camera, a tripod and a plaque), first runner-up Kwabena Osei Asamoah (a phone, a tripod and a plaque), and second runner-up Zeinab Abas Mohammed (a phone, a trpod and a plaque). I urged young people to keep telling Ghana’s story—one image at a time.