Kalsoume Sinare Baffoe has been formally sworn into office by President John Dramani Mahama as Ghana’s Ambassador-designate to the Kingdom of Spain.

The swearing-in ceremony was held on Tuesday, March 17, at the Jubilee House. Her role is to ensure good relations with the Spanish government and strengthen diplomatic, trade, and tourism relations between the two nations.

Kalsoume succeeds H.E. Regina Appiah-Samacy, who holds a first degree in Public Service and Governance from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.

In his remarks, President Mahama encouraged Mrs Baffoe to apply her skills and connections to build the best relationship with the Spanish government to foster mutual growth and understanding between the countries.

The 58-year-old former actress holds a master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and a first degree in Public Service and Governance from the same institution.

The swearing ceremony saw the presence of some movie actors, such as Jackie Appiah and Anthony Baffoe.

On the other hand, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Abeiku Santana, has announced that model and entrepreneur Hamamat Montia will soon be officially given a role to promote shea butter as part of Ghana’s tourism and cultural promotion efforts.

Speaking on Joy News, Abeiku Santana disclosed that Hamamat will be joined by award-winning musician Wiyaala and that the two personalities have already been engaged by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dzifa Gomashie in this regard.

“Our sister Hamamat will be commissioned as a tourism ambassador for shea butter. Wiyaala also is coming on board. The Honourable Minister, Dzifa Gomashie, has engaged these personalities,” he said.

Hamamat Montia has earned global recognition not only through her modelling career but also for promoting shea butter and natural skincare products, an industry closely tied to the economy of Northern Ghana and largely driven by women.

Wiyaala is widely known for showcasing Ghanaian and African culture through her music, language, and traditional style, gaining international praise for her performances and strong cultural representation.

The move is part of a wider plan by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) to use influential Ghanaian personalities to promote local industries, strengthen destination branding, and highlight Ghana’s cultural heritage globally.

Shea butter is a skin superfood that comes from the seeds of the fruit of the Shea (Karite) tree and that is naturally rich in vitamins A, E and F.

One of the most viral moments from American streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr, popularly known as IShowSpeed's Ghana visit occurred at the Shea Butter Museum, a private cultural space owned by beauty queen and entrepreneur Hamamat Montia.

During the visit, Speed received a traditional shea butter massage from a group of women.

As they massaged him, the women repeatedly chanted the phrase “Kuriya Kuriya,” which quickly caught the attention of online viewers, many of whom began asking: what does “Kuriya Kuriya” actually mean?

“Kuriya Kuriya” is a Ghanaian slang expression rooted in Dagbani culture, commonly found in Northern Ghana.

It originates from a traditional call-and-response chant sung by women while working together.

The call, “kuriya kuriya,” is usually answered with “kuri gen gen,” often followed by names or playful phrases.

Historically, Dagbani women sang this chant during communal activities or other group tasks. It was not religious or ritualistic, but rather a form of entertainment, bonding, and rhythm to make work feel lighter and more enjoyable.