Entertainment
South Africa is open for business- H.E Grace Jeanet Mason
South African High Commissioner to Ghana, Her Excellency Grace Jeanet Mason has appealed to various stakeholders to continuously do business with them.
According to her, South Africa is open for business, and have put adequate security measures in place to meet the needs of tourists.
Her Excellency Grace Jeanet Mason stressed that they have instituted Safety Tourism Monitors among others to ensure the safety of tourists.
Speaking at a Corporate Networking Event held at the residence of the High Commissioner on August 22,2024, she said, “Please do come and visit South Africa, South Africa is open for business, our beautiful landscape from all the 9 provinces, and our diverse cultures.”
She noted that tourists would have a tall list of places like Mandela Square, malls, pristine beaches, the table mountain, sites, among other beauties and heritage sites to visit.
The High Commissioner took the opportunity to celebrate the gains made as a result of the strong bilateral relationship between South Africa and Ghana which dates back to 30 years ago.
On his part, the West African Regional Director of South African Tourism, Thekiso Rakolojane, said in November 2023, they faced a challenge of decline in arrivals, adding that as a result, they were only able to achieve less than 30 per cent of their target, a situation which could have collapsed their market in Ghana if it had continued.
However, Mr.Rkolojane announced that at the end of March 2024 which is their financial year, they were hoping to get 15,000 Ghanaians visits from Ghana, surprisingly, they were able to exceed the target, by receiving about 21,000 Ghanaians visiting South African by the end of the period.
He expressed his appreciation to the South African Mission in Ghana, South African Airways and other trade partners in Ghana for helping them achieve such a feat.
Mr.Rkolojane was optimistic that they could do more, and assured stakeholders that they are ready for more business, as well as looking forward to working with all to address various concerns.
“If we can have 21,000 Ghanaians visit South Africa, directly injecting close to half a billion into our economy, we can double it, and we are saying as much as your business events contributes to our economy, we can contribute to your bottom line by providing you with high-class technology in terms of your training needs, excess to the variety of experiences in terms of the things to do in| South Africa and world class facilities,” he noted.
Some of the stakeholders at the event expressed appreciation to South African Tourism for close collaborations over the years.
The event marked a significant effort to further strengthening bilateral relationship between South Africa and Ghana with an an objective of fostering collaboration among various stakeholders in the corporate
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
THE president of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) Mr Bessa Simon has described criticism against a donation made to the family of the legendary Yaw Sarpong as misleading and a means to tarnish their image.
According to him, GH¢500 donated to the family during one week observance wasn’t the final funeral contribution but a symbolic amount to help with refreshment during the one week observance.
• Yaw Sarpong
He told the Spectator Agoro that the Union will make a formal donation at the funeral to the icon in the gospel industry.
“Giving an amount at one week is a common practice and shouldn’t overshadow Yaw Sarpongs legacy” he added
Meanwhile others praised MUSIGA for showing solidarity, others condemned the amount, describing it as inadequate and disrespectful to the legacy of the veteran singer.
Yaw Sarpong, born in Accra, emerged as one of Ghana’s most influential gospel musicians and a defining voice in contemporary Christian music across West Africa.
Rising from humble beginnings and shaped by the political and social turbulence of post-independence Ghana, he transformed gospel music with a distinctive blend of spiritual depth, lyrical clarity, and disciplined musical arrangement.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah, Ghana’s celebrated child prodigy and youngest achiever ever recorded in the Guinness World Records’ 70-year history is set to captivate audiences at the upcoming Ghana Independence Day celebrations in Beijing, China.
The Ghana Embassy in the People’s Republic of China will host series of events culminating on March 6, 2026, to mark Ghana’s 69th Independence Anniversary, with Ace Liam’s artwork prominently featured.
As part of the Embassy’s cultural initiatives, an art exhibition will showcase creative works by top Ghanaian artists including Ace Liam and renowned artist Ibrahim Mahama.
The exhibition aims to celebrate Ghana’s vibrant cultural heritage and foster closer cultural ties between Ghana and China.
At just 3 years old, Ace-Liam has earned acclaim for his innovative artistic talents. His participation in the Independence Day events highlights the role of young Ghanaian artists in promoting the country’s rich culture on a global stage.
Ambassador Kojo Bonsu, during a press soiree held on February 5, 2026, emphasised Ghana’s commitment to deepening its relationship with China through cultural exchange and economic collaboration.
The planned events will also include a business forum and a fashion show by Nineteen57, blending traditional and modern Ghanaian styles.
This will be Ace-Liam’s second international art exhibition after his debut in Barbados at the GUBA Awards.
In 2025, he received an award at the UK Parliament House of Commons as a Global Child Prodigy in Arts. He was also awarded the Kid Creator of the Year at the Creators Awards Ghana 2025.
In a related development, Ace-Liam Ankrah has been recognised as a Young Achiever in the Guinness World Records Book 2026 edition, becoming the youngest achiever in the organisation’s 70-year history.
Featured in the special anniversary edition marking seven decades of global excellence, Ace-Liam joins a distinguished group of record holders and global icons such as Simone Biles, Usain Bolt, and Dolly Parton. His achievements have made a lasting impact worldwide, capturing international attention through the extraordinary power of early childhood creativity.
This latest recognition by Guinness World Records marks a defining milestone not only for Ace-Liam, but also for Ghana and the African creative community. It highlights the importance of nurturing creativity from an early age and demonstrates the extraordinary possibilities that emerge when talent is supported and allowed to flourish.
Reacting to this news, Ace-Liam’s Mother/Manager Chantelle Kuukua Eghan remarked, ‘Ace-Liam being featured in the 2026 Guinness World Records Book as a Young Achiever is a dream come true. I feel blessed and super excited to be his mother. This is not just a win for him, but a win for all kids in the world.’’
Ace-Liam’s artistic journey began at just six months old when his mother, Ghanaian visual artist Chantelle Kuukua, laid out a canvas and paints to keep him engaged while she worked on a commissioned piece.
What began as a simple moment of curiosity quickly revealed something remarkable. Within minutes, he created his first artwork, later titled The Crawl, a vibrant expression that marked the beginning of an exceptional creative path.
Edem Mensah –Tsotorme
