Re: Tears @ Tourism Ministry

We have seen and read Mr Samuel Ansah Boateng’s article on the above subject, which was published in the NEW WEEKEND CRUSADING GUIDE Vol. 3 No 1 of Friday 7th January, 2011.

On behalf of the Tour Guides Association of Ghana(TORGAG), and on my own behalf, I write to register our utmost DISGUST at Samuel’s story. We, particularly, abhor the last paragraph: “one such organisation is the Tour Guides Association of Ghana, under the leadership of Mr Kwaku Passah, who according to him, was seriously filing an ultimatum to government for the reinstatement of the former tourism minister”. This is a total, and unreligious, LIE.

For your information: (1) Your writer, Samuel Ansah Boateng, has never spoken to the TORGAG President or any of our members on this issue; (2) no member of TORGAG or its President has been contacted by any organisation to file “an ultimatum to government for the reinstatement of the former tourism minister”;(3) no worker from the Ministry of Tourism has tried to find the views of TORGAG or its President on the reshuffle.

The Tour Guides Association of Ghana (TORGAG) is a respectable and responsible professional association of Tour Guides in Ghana. The Association seeks the professional development, practice and general welfare of its members through relevant subject research, skills training, and adherence to quality standards in the execution of their duties towards the sustenance of tourism in Ghana.

It also seeks to make informed inputs into all levels of the tourism industry and the national development efforts. Finally,TORGAG shall do all such other things that may appear to the Association to be incidental or conducive to the attainment of our objectives. TORGAG is a member of the Ghana Tourism Federation. (GHATOF).

TORGAG is a voluntary, NON-POLITICAL, non-religious and non-profit professional organisation. We are NOT an appendage to any political party. As said earlier, we are NOT in league with any organisation to issue an “ultimatum” to the President of the Republic of Ghana. TORGAG and its President acknowlewdge the fact that President Mills has every right to nominate, appoint, remove,or disappoint any Minister if he so wishes. Any citizen of Ghana may ask questions, but we cannot issue an ultimatum. Did your writer, editor,proof reader, and printer try to find out what “ULTIMATUM” means?

Sir, we have been embarrassed. TORGAG and its President have already received condemnation from members and people who believe we should know better.

In view of the above TORGAG and its President wish you to:

1. RETRACT the last paragraph of your story in your next issue and give it the same prominence as you gave the original story;

2. RENDER unqualified apology toTORGAG and its President;

3. INVESTIGATE the “source” of Samuel Ansah Boateng’s story.

We hope you will treat this letter with maximum seriousness.

Kind regards

Source: Kwaku Passah,snr President TORGAG