Ghana Telecom outdoors new payphone cards

Accra, July 21, GNA- Ghana Telecom (GT) on Wednesday out-doored new payphone cards that bear the images of selected traditional festivals to provide exposure for the country's traditions and customs and also boost local and international tourism.

Mr Divine Kpetsigo, Chief Officer, Payphone Services of the GT, said the move, which had the backing of the traditional authorities, was to put the celebrated festivals of the country on the bigger tourism map of the world.

Damba, Odwira, Homowo, Fetu Afahye, and Hogbetsotso are the five festivals, whose pictures would adorn GT's new payphone cards.

"We hope that this novel idea will help promote unity in the country and instil in civil society values from these festivals," Mr Kpetsigo said.

Launching the cards, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, said to foster unity and peaceful co-existence it was important that Ghanaians learned from one another's cultural practices and beliefs.

"We are one and the same people but separated by culture. But within the culture there are similarities proving to us that we are the same people," he said.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey expressed the hope that the Ghana Telecom's initiative would provide a platform for Ghanaians to appreciate their festivals more and help in the quest to attract one million touristsn in the next five years.

Odeneho Gyapong Ababio II, President National House of Chiefs, said the country had not marketed its tourism potentials enough to attract tourists.

There were representatives of chiefs from the areas, whose festivals were selected for the payphone cards.