Entertainment
11 African countries, three languages: Merck Foundation CEO acknowledges health workers with “My White Army”

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As part of effort to encourage and show solidarity for health workers risking their lives to save lives amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Merck Foundation, Dr Rasha Kelej has shown the way.
He has produced a song by bringing together musicians from 11 African countries to use three languages, English, French and Arabic to compose a song.
The song written by a Ghanaian contemporary gospel music dynamo, Cwesi Oteng is to acknowledge the amazing work by, doctors, nurses and other hospital staff in Africa.
Other artistes on the song include, A Pass from Uganda, Kambua from Kenya, Mahmoud Al Leithy from Egypt, Nikki from Nigeria, Rozzy from Sierra Leone, Salatiel from Cameroon, Sean K from Namibia, Sunita from The Gambia, Tom Close from Rwanda and Wezi from Zambia.
Speaking of the new song, Dr Kelej emphasised, “I strongly believe, it is important for the people on the front line; doctors, nurses and health workers know how grateful we are. I don’t want this to be a one-off thank you, but one that becomes a regular act of gratitude across our communities. I have heard stories of horrible behaviour against our health workers, such as, landlords are forcefully evicting them due to paranoia that they might spread COVID -19. It is shocking, illegal and inhuman behaviour”.
She further added that though she was not a professional music director or producer, as the CEO of Merck Foundation she had produced and directed many documentaries with the aim to break the stigma around infertile women and to empower women and girls in education in Africa and Asia as part of their programmes.
“So, I believe I have the talent and experience needed. Most importantly, I have the vision of inclusive Africa, all regions of Africa; North, South, West and East in one work and one initiative that goes across the whole continent and the whole world,” Rasha Kelej added.
Aside this, which is her personal contribution towards the COVID-19 fight, her organisation, Merck Foundation has partnered with 18 First Ladies in four main focus areas which include; supporting the livelihood of thousands of casual workers and women during the lockdown, launching the ‘Stay at Home’ Media Recognition Awards, launching an inspiring children storybook ‘Make the Right Choice’ to sensitise children and youth about coronavirus and building healthcare capacity by providing online one year diploma for African doctors in Respiratory Medicines and Acute Medicines.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Entertainment
All set for Ghana Comedy Awards 2026
Ghana’s comedy industry would take centre stage today, when the sixth edition of the Ghana Comedy Awards is held at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Ridge, Accra.
The event, which has become the country’s premier platform for recognising excellence in comedy since it rebranded from the Comedy and Poetry Awards, would celebrate comedians whose performances and contributions stood out between January 1 and December 31, 2025. 


This year’s ceremony would begin with a red-carpet session at 7:00 p.m., followed by the main awards event at 8:30 p.m.
Organisers have promised an evening of entertainment featuring some of Ghana’s foremost comedy talents, including Lekzy, Jeneral Ntatia, Kojo PJay, Oh Joo, Alo Wess, Ranzy Ray and Jerry Ashinyo.
Musical performances are also expected to complement the comedy acts.
Media personality Kwame Dadzie would play host for the event, which is expected to attract comedians, entertainers and fans from across the country.
Tickets for the awards are selling at GH¢200 for the silver package and GH¢300 for Gold.
The organisers have also urged the public to support their favourite nominees by voting before polls close at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 1. Voting can be done by dialling 71333*009# and entering the nominee’s code.
Beyond honouring outstanding performers, the Ghana Comedy Awards seeks to celebrate the growth of Ghana’s comedy industry and the talents who continue to entertain audiences nationwide. -GNA
Entertainment
Ghanaian film ‘Eco Reach We All’ secures world premiere at 79th Locarno Film Festival

After years of development, funding, and creative grit, Ghanaian feature film “Ego Reach We All” has earned an official nomination to make its world premiere at the 79th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland this month.
Formerly titled Vagabonds, the 105-minute drama was written and directed by Amartei Armar and produced by Yemoh Ike.
It marks one of the biggest international breakthroughs for Ghanaian cinema in recent years.
The film was shot entirely in Ghana with a Ghanaian cast and crew, grounding it in authentic local culture.
Post-production was completed in France, a collaboration that Director Amartei Armar says reflects the film’s spirit, “A Ghanaian story told with the world.”
The journey began in 2018 when the short film version won at the Montreal World Film Festival, an Oscar-qualifying event.
From there, ‘Ego Reach We All’ grew into a full-length feature backed by some of the most respected names in global film development: Winner – Cannes Focus CoPro, Recipient – Red Sea Development Fund, Honoree – Red Sea Souk Award and Backed by – Red Sea Productions Fund.
Industry watchers have called it one of the most promising African film projects to emerge in the last decade.
Beyond awards, the project was shaped in top international labs.
Armar was selected for the Heyazah Screening Lab in Doha, Qatar, to refine the film’s narrative.
Producer, Yemoh Ike joined the prestigious, 2023 EAVE Producers Programme under a CNC scholarship, with training sessions in Luxembourg, Austria, and the Netherlands.
Most recently, the film was chosen for the 2025 Atlas Workshop in Marrakesh, Morocco, cementing its place in global cinema circles.
Casts include, Idrissu Tontie, Dorothy Adobea Tandoh, Emmanuel Wilberforce, Barbara Yong Jin, Emmanuel Owusu Ofori, O’Bryan Kwame Enyan, Gabriel Narh Addo, Nelly Bilson, and Kwame Brenya.
For the team, Locarno is not just a festival slot. It’s validation that Ghanaian stories, told by Ghanaians, can compete on the world’s most respected stages.
“Principal photography was done entirely by Ghanaian creatives,” the producers noted.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme




