Tourism Minister outdoors Wiyaala as Fugu Ambassador

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has outdoored celebrated Ghanaian musician and cultural icon Noella Wiyaala Nwadei as Fugu (Smock) Ambassador as part of efforts to promote Ghana’s tourism and smock fabric. 

This follows the declaration of Wednesdays by the government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, on February 10, as National Fugu Day. 

The initiative is aimed at preserving, promoting, and celebrating Ghana’s rich cultural heritage, while projecting the nation’s identity with pride on the global stage. 

Addressing the gathering, Madam Ablah Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, indicated that the honour bestowed on Wiyaala was to celebrate the identity, resilience, and cultural heritage of northern Ghana. 

She commended Wiyaala for consistently projecting Ghana’s culture, including the Smock, on local and global platforms through music and fashion. 

“I’ve known Wiyaala for close to almost 20 years, and for as long as I can remember, this lady has always worn Fugu before it became a matter of social media promotion”, Madam Gomashie said. 

According to her, beyond music, Wiyaala had undertaken initiatives that positively impacted young people and women, promoted education, environmental cleanliness, and championed local culture. 

Madam Gomashie expressed confidence that Wiyaala, in her new role as FUGU Queen and Tourism Ambassador, would continue to use her influence to promote Ghana’s tourism and creative arts sector globally. 

She urged Ghanaians to consciously patronise locally made products, such as Fugu, to boost the nation’s economy, create jobs and preserve cultural heritage. 

She said the ministry remained committed to collaborating with traditional leaders and stakeholders to harness the tourism potential in northern Ghana for sustainable development and job creation. 

Receiving the honour, Wiyaala thanked the Ministry for the recognition and pledged to justify the confidence reposed in her. 

“I have accepted this title, this honour, and I will not disappoint you. I will make Ghana proud when I go out there,” she assured. 

Speaking on behalf of the elders of Funsi, Mr Ernest Nwadei praised Wiyaala for using her music and creativity to project the cultural beauty of Funsi, the Upper West Region, and Ghana to the world. 

He appealed to the Ministry to continue supporting initiatives aimed at preserving culture and creating opportunities for the youth through tourism and the creative arts industry. 

The Minister also visited some attraction sites in the region, including the Royal Cosy Hills Hotel (Jirapa Dubai) and the Gwollu Slave Defence Wall, to have a first-hand experience of those sites. 

After touring the safari at Jirapa Dubai, Madam Gomashie commended the late Eric Johnsone for establishing that global-standard facility in the region and encouraged Ghanaians and tourists to patronise the facility to appreciate wildlife. 

At Gwollu, the Minister visited the tomb of the late former President of Ghana, Dr. Hilla Limann and the defence wall and heard the history and story of the crocodile pond. 

She expressed concern that some histories of Ghana remained oral and checkered, stressing the need for documentation of such histories. 

Mr Kuobintuo Abdallah, the tour guide, appealed to the government through the Minister to help maintain and protect the defence wall from destruction. 

Source: GNA