A photographer with the Daily Graph­ic, Mr Caleb Nii Addo Vanderpuye, has emerged winner of the maiden National Heritage Photo Competition organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, in collabo­ration in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisa­tion (UNESCO).For his prize, Mr Vanderpuye was presented with a brand new camera, tripod, and a plaque.The photography that won him the ultimate prize was an image capturing the historic meeting between the Asantehene and the Ga Mantse in Accra, the first such encounter in six decades.Mr Kwabena Asamoah Osei and Abass Zainab Mohammed emerged as the first and second runners-up, respectively, and were presented with a brand-new cam­era and a plaque.A total of 18 photographers and artists participated in the competition, each submitting various eye-catching photographs that showcased Ghanaian cultural identity.The event, which was or­ganised to celebrate the power of photography in preserving Ghana's cultural identity, brought together young creative, cultural stakeholders, and dignitaries to honour participants whose work showcased Ghana's rich traditions and history.Speaking at the event, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Ms Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described the initiative as "a celebration of not just pho­tography, but of identity, memory, and the vibrant cultural tapestry that is uniquely Ghanaian."Congratulating the winners, the Minister explained that the con­test was designed to inspire young people to engage with culture in meaningful ways, while unearthing new tourism sites and nurturing talent in the creative arts sector.The UNESCO Country Director, Mr Edmond Moukala, praised the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts for the initiative, and urged the youth photographers to use the camera to portray and preserve the Gha­naian culture and heritage through storytelling BY EUGENE AMPIAW