By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, May 12, GNA – The Tourism Society of Ghana (TOSOGHA) has launched a renewed initiative to strengthen tourism clubs in schools and promote heritage education among young people.
The programme forms part of TOSOGHA’s ongoing collaboration with national tourism institutions and follows a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ghana Heritage Conservation Trust (GHCT).
Mr Joseph Amartey, Acting Executive Director of TOSOGHA, said the initiative was a continuation of the Society’s commitment to developing future leaders in tourism and heritage conservation.
He explained that previous partnerships with the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) had established a strong foundation for youth engagement in tourism education.
“The new partnership will adopt a more structured and practical approach to empower tourism clubs in Ghanaian schools and make heritage learning a living experience rather than only classroom theory,” he said.
Mr Amartey said the project aims to deepen students’ understanding of Ghana’s cultural heritage, foster conservation awareness, and provide hands-on experiential learning opportunities.
He said the programme would focus on four main areas: heritage excursions and educational tours; capacity-building workshops and seminars; the Youth Heritage Ambassador Programme; and community outreach and advocacy events.
Under the excursions and tours component, students will undertake guided visits to forts, castles, museums, monuments, and cultural landscapes to gain direct exposure to Ghana’s heritage resources.
The workshops and seminars will equip tourism club members with practical skills in heritage preservation, tourism promotion, and cultural documentation.
The Youth Heritage Ambassador Programme will train selected students to promote conservation awareness in their schools and communities while supporting national tourism education campaigns.
Tourism clubs will also conduct outreach activities in local communities to encourage respect for heritage sites, environmental responsibility, and cultural pride among young people.
Mr Amartey said the partnership would combine the heritage-conservation expertise of the GHCT with TOSOGHA’s nationwide school network to create a strong platform for youth development in the tourism sector.
“Strengthening tourism clubs in schools remains one of the most effective ways to build national pride, promote sustainable tourism and ensure the long-term preservation of Ghana’s rich cultural heritage,” he said.
The Society said that the programme will be implemented in phases across basic schools, senior high schools, and tertiary institutions with support from tourism stakeholders, educators, and heritage professionals.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Hafsa Obeng