News
Bnoskka to champion UNESCO Aschberg Programme in Ghana as National Expert
In a significant recognition of his expertise, Benjamin Oduro Arhin Jnr, aka Bnoskka, has been awarded a consultancy contract by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the National Expert for the UNESCO Aschberg Program in Ghana.
This contract, which runs from October 1, 2023, to August 31, 2024, is a testament to Bnoskka’s extensive knowledge and experience in creative arts business and intellectual property issues. As the sole national expert, he will be responsible for training 400 emerging artists and cultural professionals across Ghana, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the creative industry.
The project, fully funded by UNESCO, aims to promote the creative arts sector in Ghana, contributing to the country’s economic growth and cultural development. The National Commission on Culture, in collaboration with stakeholders in the cultural and creative industries, will organize activities across the country, leveraging Bnoskka’s expertise to ensure the project’s success.
Following a competitive call for expressions of interest, Bnoskka was selected for his outstanding qualifications and experience in creative arts business and intellectual property. As the sole national expert, he will lead the implementation of the project, training 400 emerging artists and cultural professionals across Ghana.
The project aims to: Strengthen the creative arts sector in Ghana, Enhance the capacity of emerging artists and cultural professionals, Promote cultural diversity and creativity, and Foster international cooperation and collaboration.
Bnoskka’s responsibilities will include: Developing training programs and materials,Conducting workshops and training sessions, Mentoring emerging artists and cultural professionals and Collaborating with stakeholders in the cultural and creative industries.
Bnoskka, a lecturer at the School of Creative Arts, University of Education, Winneba, has established himself as a leading expert in creative arts business and intellectual property. He has organized numerous seminars and workshops, sharing his knowledge with artists, cultural professionals, and students. His expertise spans business development, trademark laws, patents, copyright, branding, and cultural and international relations.
As a published author and researcher, Bnoskka’s work focuses on music, arts, and culture business and intellectual property rights and law. His publications and research have contributed significantly to the field, making him a respected voice in Ghana and beyond.
This contract underscores Bnoskka’s commitment to promoting Ghana’s creative arts sector and his reputation as a leading expert in the field. His involvement in the UNESCO Aschberg Program is expected to have a lasting impact on the country’s creative industry, empowering emerging artists and cultural professionals to succeed.
News
Abu Trica’s extradition case: Prophets, fetish priests demand pay for spiritual solution …Lawyer reveals
Mr Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a lawyer for embattled Frederick Kumi, affectionately called Abu Trica and has made a shocking revelation over the behaviour of some members of the clergy.
According to him in a post on social media, the difficult part of Abu Trica’s trial is not the law but the number of ‘Men of God’ and fetish priests demanding financial sacrifices to help resolve the matter spiritually.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2026, “The most difficult part about the Abu Trica case; is not the law.”
He continued: “It is the number of, prophetesses, evangelists and fetish priests, who have called or messaged to ask us to pay for spiritual solutions.”
It would be recalled that in March this year, the Gbese District Court dismissed a preliminary objection filed by Abu Trica, challenging the extradition proceedings initiated at the request of the United States.
The court, presided over by Anna Akosua Appiah Gottfried Anaafi Gyasi, in its ruling held that the offences forming the basis of the extradition, particularly wire fraud, constitute extraditable offences under the 1931 treaty between Ghana and the United States.
He was then given 15 days counting from March 27 to appeal the decision of the court or be surrendered for extradition to the US.
Against this backdrop, he was on Tuesday, April 22, granted a bail in the sum of GH¢30,000,000 by an Accra High, pending the appeal of his extradition
Mr Kumi was arrested in Ghana in December 2025 following an indictment by United States authorities, alleging that he played a role in a romance scam network that defrauded elderly American victims of more than $8 million.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
News
From panic to pass: how parents, teachers can help children beat BECE, WASSCE exam phobia- Part 1
Walk through any Junior High or Senior High compound in Ghana as BECE or WASSCE approaches and you will see it.
A bright girl suddenly quiet. A boy who led class debates now sleeping at his desk. A Form three student with stomach pains every Monday morning.
This is not laziness. This is academic stress. When left unaddressed, it hardens into exam phobia-overwhelming dread that pushes children into burnout, avoidance, and sometimes silence.
As a mental health professional who sits with these children and their parents at Counselor Prince & Associates Consult (CPAC) in Adenta Oyarifa-Teiman, I see the pattern clearly.
Research confirms it. Putwain and Daly (2014) found that high test anxiety predicts lower grades independent of ability. Zeidner (1998) showed that chronic academic pressure raises cortisol, weakens memory recall, and increases school dropout risk. The brain under fear cannot retrieve what it studied.
Understanding the storm: What academic stress really looks like
Exam phobia is not just “being nervous.” It shows up as headaches before mocks, sudden anger when books are mentioned, night-time insomnia, or perfectionism that ends in blank scripts.
Some children over-study until 2 a.m. and forget everything by 9 a.m. Others avoid books completely, scrolling phones instead. Both are distress signals. Dr Kenneth Ginsburg, a paediatrician specialising in adolescent resilience, notes: “Stress is not the enemy; feeling alone with stress is.” Too many Ghanaian children feel alone with it.
The home front: How parents and couples become safe havens, not extra pressure
The first antidote is at home. Structure beats shouting. Set a predictable study slot-same time, same place, with water and a light snack. Then protect sleep like you protect school fees. A tired brain fails faster than an unprepared one. Use the “15-minute start rule”: “Just sit for 15 minutes. If you still can’t, we close and try after a walk.” Often, starting is the hardest part.
Couples must watch their language. “Don’t disgrace us” plants fear. Replace it with “We see your effort. What part feels hardest today?” Praise process, not only position: “You revised three topics and asked for help—that is maturity.” Research by Dweck (2006) confirms that process praise builds resilience while outcome praise increases anxiety.
For caregivers, check your own anxiety. Children borrow our nervous system. If BECE makes you panic, they will panic. One parent grounds—keeps meals, prayer, and bedtime steady. The other pivots—talks to teachers, adjusts timetables, arranges counselling. Both protect rest. An empty cup cannot pour calm.
Resources
– Counsellor Prince & Associates Consult (CPAC): Award-winning Clinical Mental Health and Counselling Facility, accredited by the Ghana Psychology Council.
– School-Based Support: Speak to Guidance & Counselling units, or licensed school counsellors. E.g. Counsellor Blessing Offei – 0559850604 (School Counsellor).
– Contact CPAC for Parent Coaching/Counselling & Student Therapy: 055 985 0604 / 055 142 8486
