Dzifa Gomashie (In green cloth) with some officials at the National Heritage Photo Awards
Three young Ghanaian photographers were celebrated on July 30, 2025 at the National Heritage Photo Competition Awards held at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.
The competition, organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, aims to inspire youth under 25 to preserve Ghana’s cultural identity through visual storytelling.
Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, commended the winners for capturing powerful images that reflect Ghana’s heritage. In her keynote, she said, “You have not only told your own stories, but you have helped tell Ghana’s story.” The winning photos will be added to the national cultural archive.
The ceremony began with a moment of silence for the late Highlife legend Charles Kwadwo Fosu, known as Daddy Lumba. The Minister described him as “a true legend whose music became the soundtrack of our lives.”
Submissions showcased festivals, crafts, historic sites, and rural life, judged on creativity, technical skill, and cultural relevance.
Gomashie praised all participants and quoted cultural advocate Arnold Quanoo, saying, “Heritage is not what we inherit by accident, but what we choose to preserve with intention.”
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment, under the leadership of H.E. President John Dramani Mahama, to supporting youth through arts and culture.
The event was attended by dignitaries including the High Commissioner of Barbados, the Mexican Ambassador to Ghana, the UNESCO Country Director, and Osmanu Damba, Acting Secretary-General of Ghana’s National Commission for UNESCO.
Speaking on behalf of UNESCO, Dr Damba applauded the Ministry’s efforts to make heritage more accessible to the public and relevant to the digital generation.
He said initiatives like the photo competition help bring Ghana’s history to the world and called it “more than just a contest.”
Awards were presented to overall winner Caleb Vanderpuye, first runner-up Kwabena Osei Asamoah, and second runner-up Zeinab Abas Mohammed. The ceremony ended with a call for young people to keep telling Ghana’s story—one image at a time.
