She suggested exposing tourists to the artifacts that identify the uniqueness of the region.

Madam Gomashie was speaking at an annual award ceremony held over the weekend by the Ghana Tourism Authority to celebrate hardworking workers in the Volta Region’s hospitality and tourism space.

She stressed the need to preserve and promote the unique culture of the people.

“I am encouraging us not be too consumed with the appreciation for other people’s way of lives and their languages but also as you learn other people’s language, teach yours as well. If we stop speaking the language, we lose the culture because the culture is carried through the language. In every country whose language you don’t even speak, you are forced to learn ‘Hello’ or ‘Thank you; once you get in there, you learn a word or sentence. It is the same concept; it is the way in which you do it that is going to make people love it as part of the package or culture in the hotel,” she said.

Extolling the enviable tourism potential of the region, the former deputy Tourism Minister also called on the media to support the campaign of making the Volta Region a major tourism destination in Ghana.

“My own thinking is that, we call the Volta Region, the rainbow region because we have every tribe in this region.  The topography is very different from any other; we have the savanna, the beach, and the forest areas. The way, in which the region changes from Aflao through Ho to Amedzofe, it’s something that I can tell a story with, I can write about in poetry and songs. So we need the media to tell these stories.”

It was a night of beautiful performances and display of the rich culture of the Volta Region.

Villa Cisneros Resort in Sogakope, was adjudged the Hotel of the year in the 3-Star Category, followed by Stevens Hotel, Ho and Aseda River Resort Hotel, Juapong who were both awarded Hotels of the year in the 2-star and 1-star categories respectively.

Others awards were handed to Rocklyne Hotel, Ho; Aborigines Beach Resort, Dzelukope; Chances Hotel, Kyabobo National Park, Nkwanta; Sky Plus Hotel, Ho and KCS downtown Ho for Guest House of the year, Budget Hotel of the year, Best Services Hotel, Attraction Site of the Year, Most Consistent Tourism Levy Payer and Fast Food of the Year respectively.

The rest were Lorlornyo Chop Bar, Hohoe; Mirage; Ho and Tour Care International, Hohoe who were awarded Traditional (Chop Bar) Catering, Drinking Spot and Tour Operator of the Year.

Kuul FM, Ho was named tourism-oriented Media House of the Year while Saviour Sika of Kyabobo National Park was adjudged Site Guide of the year.

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By: King Nobert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post V/R: Teach tourists Ewe to promote our culture – Dzifa Gomashie appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This is to enable them to compete favorably in those fields which are largely male-dominated.

They were taken through 3-month of intensive technical and non-technical training and underwent a month’s internship program with various organizations to practice what they had studied.

The Acting Executive Director of NEWIG, Mawulawoe Anato-Dumelo, in an interview with Citi News said the organization despite the success, faced challenges raising funds to procure vehicles to facilitate the training of the women.

“Getting a place for internship was also a challenge… we wish more organisations would open their doors to the ladies such as the GPRTU, Banks and many others,” she said.

She called on the government to provide avenues for the employment of the drivers.

“We are pleading with the government to open their arms to these women who are drivers to drive the ministers, advisers etc. to enhance them and give them experience”.

She also pleaded with the government to pass the Affirmative Action Bill into a law since that would enhance the right of women in their work place.

The chairperson for the occasion, Dzifa Gomashie, who is a former deputy minister for tourism and creative arts charged the graduates to serve with humility and perseverance in whatever working environment they find themselves.

NEWIG is committed is to supporting women’s self-development to have full autonomy over their lives.

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By: Rita Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NGO trains 20 women in driving, first aid appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

She urged citizens to religiously guard the country’s cultural heritage, since it was a bedrock that could build a strong economy.

Ms Gomashie was speaking at a press soiree organised by management of the Peduase Valley Resort at Peduase in the Eastern Region.

The event was on the theme: “Arts and Culture for a more Sustainable Social Economic Environment.”

She said, Ghanaians needed to take a second look at the way they preserve their cultural heritage, because it was an important part of the tradition of the country.

The Deputy Minister said: “We have lost our rich cultural heritage all in the name of modernity and development.”

She said Ghanaians needed to have a paradigm shift that would ensure them concentrate on home grown development and called on Africans to come together to reclaim the rich heritage that had existed for years.

She said government had ratified the seven United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation conventions to create opportunities to assess funding to promote activities in the sector and share what the country has with the world.

She said Ghana had a culture policy, and “l do not know whether we have made enough of what is in the policy but it will be a sad story if we do not embrace and all other things that reflect who we are that can sustain and promote our heritage”.

She commended the Ambassador of Columbia for her support in the promotion of culture and arts in the country.

Mr Hussien Fakhry, the Managing Director of the Peduase Valley Resort commended the Ministry for the support it had given to industry players in the country.

Ghanaian Afro pop singer-songwriter, Noella Wiyaala thrilled the gathering with some of her songs.

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Source: GNA

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