Tourism Ministry, UNESCO honour younger Ghanaians for selling cultural heritage by pictures

Three younger non skilled photographers have been adjudged winners of the 2025 National Heritage Photo Competition Awards.

This is the primary version of the competitors the place the prizes have been awarded.

The awardees, Mr Caleb Nii Addo Vanderpuije, the Overall Winner, took dwelling a digicam and a tripod, Mr Kwabena Asamoah Osei, 1st Runner Up obtained a Samsung Cellphone and tripod and Miss Zainab Abass Mohammed, 2nd Runner Up additionally took dwelling a Samsung Cellphone and tripod.

The National Heritage Photo Competition Awards was institutionalised by Madam. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizlsation (UNESCO).

The awards scheme which targets younger Ghanaians underneath 25 years of age, is to encourage them to discover Ghana’s heritage not solely by books and oral custom but in addition by the facility of visible storytelling.

The awardees had gone by rigorous choice processes with a number of different entrants throughout the nation and had exhibited their dexterity in telling Ghana’s story with footage that depicted and promoted cultural heritage earlier than rising as the primary, second and third greatest photographers.

Mr Vanderpuije, the Overall Winner topped the competitors with an image of the Asantehene, Otumfour Osei Tutu II, in an iconic handshake and alternate of pleasantries with King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse in the course of the former’s historic Royal go to to the Ga State.

“I took that picture because it was a historical moment. Otumfour Sir Osei Tutu Agyemang Prempeh II visited the then Ga Mantse in 1946. My pictures were to promote Ghana’s heritage and culture and I saw a particular one to be good and that won me the award,” he stated

Mr Vanderpuije stated: “Winning the award is motivating because there are no such events that help photographers. I want to create more pictures and so the public should be looking out for more collections that promote our culture and heritage.”

Madam Gomashie in an handle, stated the federal government’s agenda was to unearth new alternatives for tourism and new skills within the tradition and artistic area, including that the popularity would propel the awardees to better heights of their artistic journey and the artistic ecosystem.

“We imagine that the artistic arts usually are not only a type of expression however a strong device for training, tourism and financial transformation.

The photos didn’t solely present technical talent and creativity but in addition conveyed emotion, historical past and a deep appreciation of Ghana’s cultural wealth,” she stated.

The Minister stated: “To our winners, your work speaks volumes, you have not only told your own stories but you have also helped tell Ghana’s story and for that we are immensely proud of you. Your contributions will be preserved as part of a national collection.”

Mr Edmond Moukala, Director of UNESCO Accra, stated the competitors was a reminder that heritage was not static however a dynamic, evolving and required course of nurturing.

“We encourage all of you, particularly the young minds to continue being active custodians of our heritage. We believe that by empowering individuals to engage deeply with their heritage, we collectively build stronger, more cohesive communities that contribute significantly to a more peaceful and understanding world,” he stated