A reality TV show in Ghana uses celebrities to raise awareness about adolescent health and family planning.
Lucky Trip, which premiered its third season in Accra on Friday, is part of a campaign by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to accelerate social and behavioral change.
The show takes viewers on a visual journey through Ghana while addressing health challenges and providing solutions.
Each episode features a celebrity who picks up a random rider and engages them in a conversation about important public health issues, such as reproductive health, maternal health, nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation.
The show aims to make healthy living attractive and trendy by leveraging the influence of prominent Ghanaians who are role models for the youth.
Mabel Anim, the deputy director for the Health Promotion Division at the GHS, said the service was committed to fostering health-conscious behaviours through the media.
“Through mass media and TV programmes, we enlighten Ghana’s population about essential health behaviours,” she said at the premiere.
She added that the GHS believed in breaking the traditional confines of health education and instilling the idea that healthy living is not just a choice but a statement of empowerment.
Stephen Dzisi, the acting health office director of USAID Ghana, said the episodes would shed light on vital topics like adolescent health and family planning.
“We will learn important health messages, but in a way that makes it real to all of us,” he said.
The show features Ghanaian actors like James Gardiner, Roselyn Ngissah, David Osei and Elikem the Tailor.
The project is part of USAID’s commitment to helping Ghanaian youth adopt safe health behaviours to improve public health.
The show is produced by Sacrefilms, a production company that originated by connecting celebrities with their authentic selves to inspire the youths.
Mawule Messan, a spokesperson for Sacrefilms, said Lucky Trip was a unique and innovative way of communicating health messages to the masses.
“We hope that through the captivating narratives and authentic journeys of these celebrities on Lucky Trip, we can break barriers, challenge norms, and pave the way for a healthier, brighter future for our beloved Ghana,” he said.
