Heritage photo competition honors youth for cultural storytelling
Three young Ghanaian photographers were honored on Tuesday, July 30, at the National Heritage Photo Competition Awards held at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.
The prestigious event, organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, celebrates the creativity of youth under 25 who use visual storytelling to preserve Ghana’s cultural identity.
The ceremony opened with a solemn moment of silence in memory of the late highlife legend Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba. Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, paid tribute to the icon, describing him as “a true legend whose music became the soundtrack of our lives.”
In her keynote address, the Minister commended the winners for capturing compelling images that reflect the nation’s rich heritage.
“You have not only told your own stories, but you have helped tell Ghana’s story,” she said.
The winning photographs will be archived in the national cultural repository.
The competition attracted dozens of entries depicting traditional festivals, indigenous crafts, historical landmarks, and everyday rural life. Entries were evaluated based on creativity, technical skill, and cultural relevance.
The Minister encouraged all participants, quoting renowned cultural advocate Arnold Quanoo: “Heritage is not what we inherit by accident, but what we choose to preserve with intention.”
She also reaffirmed the government’s commitment under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama to supporting youth through arts and culture.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were the High Commissioner of Barbados, the Mexican Ambassador to Ghana, the UNESCO Country Director, and Dr. Osmanu Damba, Acting Secretary-General of Ghana’s National Commission for UNESCO.
Speaking on behalf of UNESCO, Dr. Damba praised the Ministry’s efforts to make Ghana’s heritage accessible and engaging for the digital generation.
“This initiative is more than just a contest. It’s a meaningful way to bring Ghana’s history to the world,” he remarked. Top honors went to Caleb Vanderpuye, who was named overall winner. Kwabena Osei Asamoah and Zeinab Abas Mohammed were named first and second runners-up respectively.
