News
Black Star Experience coordinates Ghana Month in Ethiopia to strengthen Pan-African tourism, culture and business connections
A vibrant and culturally immersive Tourism Trade Show has been successfully held in Ethiopia as part of the official launch of Ghana Month at the renowned Kuriftu African Village, bringing together tourism stakeholders, cultural enthusiasts, business leaders, creatives, and members of the diplomatic community in a celebration of African unity and collaboration.
The initiative was organized by Bridge54, a Pan-African cultural and diplomacy platform committed to reconnecting African nations through tourism, culture, trade, and investment opportunities.
The event was coordinated by the The Black Star Experience Secretariat under the leadership of Rex Owusu Marfo.
The launch marked an important cultural and economic exchange between Ghana and Ethiopia, highlighting the shared values, heritage, and aspirations of the African continent.
Guests were treated to an authentic Ghanaian experience through carefully curated showcases of Ghana’s rich traditions, creativity, and hospitality.
Attendees experienced live Kente weaving demonstrations, authentic Ghanaian Shea Butter exhibitions, chocolate tasting sessions, traditional Ghanaian cuisine and drinks, GTP fabric displays, and a showcase of indigenous craftsmanship that reflected the beauty and ingenuity of Ghanaian artisans.
The event also served as a platform for strengthening meaningful Ethiopian-Ghanaian partnerships in tourism, business, investment, arts, and cultural exchange.
Through music, food, fashion, and storytelling, the initiative reinforced the importance of intra-African collaboration and people-to-people connections.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, organizers emphasized that the Ghana Month activation goes beyond cultural exhibition and represents a broader vision of building bridges across Africa through shared identity, economic cooperation, and cultural diplomacy.
The celebration forms part of ongoing efforts to position Africa as a connected destination for tourism, trade, and cultural engagement while encouraging Africans to explore, invest in, and celebrate one another.
The significance of initiatives such as this lies at the very heart of The Black Star Experience Secretariat vision, using culture, tourism, arts, and creative engagement as powerful tools to reconnect Africa with itself and the world.
By creating platforms that promote authentic African experiences and foster cross-border partnerships, the Black Star Experience continues to position Ghana as a leading hub for Pan-African collaboration, cultural diplomacy, tourism growth, and creative economy development across the continent.
One of the major highlights of the event was the commitment by Tadiwos G. Belete, CEO of Kuriftu Resorts, to establish a dedicated shop in Ethiopia to market Ghanaian products. The move is expected to significantly expand visibility and commercial opportunities for Ghanaian brands within the Ethiopian market.
Discussions during the event also revealed plans for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ghana Tourism Authority and their Ethiopian counterparts to strengthen tourism cooperation and jointly market both destinations.
Stakeholders emphasised the enormous opportunities presented by Ethiopia’s vast market size and strategic accessibility, particularly with Ethiopian Airlines currently operating flights from Accra three times daily.
The announcement that, from 25th May, Africans will be able to travel to Ghana visa-free was received with excitement by participants, who described it as a major step toward strengthening cultural and economic ties between Ghana and Ethiopia, while advancing broader Pan-African integration.
As part of efforts to sustain cultural awareness throughout the month of May, Ghanaian chefs will remain in Ethiopia to promote Ghanaian cuisine and culinary experiences.
In addition, GTP Textiles announced plans to enter the Ethiopian market by designing fabrics tailored specifically to Ethiopian tastes and preferences. Ghanaian fashion brands also participated in the showcase, with collections modelled by Ethiopian models in a powerful display of cultural exchange and creative collaboration.
The event attracted high-profile participation including Ghana’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, His Excellency Robert Afriyie and his Deputy, representatives from United Nations Permanent Missions, and the Kenyan Ambassador to Ethiopia.
Sister agencies including the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and the Ghana Tourism Authority also participated alongside six Ghanaian SMEs, including a Kente weaver, 57 Chocolate, a handmade chocolate company, Skin Gourmet, a Shea Butter company, and several fashion houses.
Panel discussions during the event encouraged both countries to deepen investment partnerships, particularly within Ghana’s mining sector, tourism industry, and creative economy.
Organizers noted that the success of the initiative demonstrates the immense opportunities that exist when African nations intentionally collaborate through culture, tourism, trade, and diplomacy.
The event is expected to grow even bigger as Ghana prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary next year, with projected benefits for tourism operators, investors, creatives, and Medium to Small Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) across both countries.
A woman who is accused of bolting with ‘susu’ money totaling GH₵156,445 has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.
Martha Nana Esi Afful was alleged to have collected the money from 35 complainants.
Charged with 35 counts of fraudulent breach of trust, Martha, who was earlier remanded, pleaded not guilty.
The court, presided over by Mr Joseph Y. Kuunsong on Wednesday, admitted the accused person to a GH₵200,000 bail with two sureties.
One of the sureties, the court said, must be a public servant earning not less than GH₵5,000.
She is expected to reappear on August 12, 2026.
The Prosecution’s case before the court is that the complainants are traders and residents at La in Accra.
Prosecution described Martha as a ‘Susu’ collector, who resided at Burma Camp.
The court heard that the accused person run a business with the name ‘ZOE’ and she deceived the 35 complainants into believing that she collected ‘Susu’ daily, which was kept for a period of one-three years, and paid interest on the money invested.
The complainants contributed in 2023 for a three-year period, prosecution said.
In December 2025, when the complainants went to take their money with interest, Martha went into hiding and only took phone calls from a few complainants.
Prosecution said the accused provided a MTN Momo number through which a few of the complainants still paid monies.
It said all efforts made to collect the money, totaling GH₵156,445 from her, proved futile.
On June 14, 2026, a report was made to the police and Martha was picked up at a washing bay at Tse Addo.
During interrogation, she admitted the offence in her caution statement, saying she lost her husband and relocated to Swedru in the Central Region, hence the complainants were unable to reach her from December 2025 till date.
Prosecution said Martha further stated that she had invested the monies into refuse collection business and she needed time to pay the amount.
Police are investigating the claims. –GNA
A Public Health Nurse at the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal of the Ayawaso West Health Directorate, Ms Patience Adoli Kporxah, has cautioned the public against coming into contact with floodwaters, warning that exposure can lead to serious diseases, infections and injuries.
Floodwater, she said, should always be treated as contaminated, regardless of how clean it appears, because it may contain sewage, human and animal waste, chemicals, fuel, sharp objects and disease-causing micro-organisms.
In an interview with The Spectator in Accra on Thursday, Ms Kporxah explained that contact with contaminated floodwater exposes people to bacteria, viruses, parasites, hazardous chemicals and other physical hazards that can result in illness or injury.
Her advice came in the wake of recent exposure to floodwater following Monday’s torrential rains that left vast areas of the capital flooded.
As a result, a lot of people were seen either ‘swimming’ in the floodwater to rescue people or retrieving items being washed away.
According to her, exposure to floodwater could cause skin infections, particularly where there are cuts or open wounds, as well as diarrhoea diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery and other forms of gastroenteritis if contaminated water was swallowed.
Other health risks, she said include hepatitis A, eye and ear infections, tetanus in people with untreated wounds or incomplete vaccination, and injuries from submerged sharp objects, debris or electrical hazards.
Ms Kporxah advised anyone who had contact with floodwater to monitor their health closely and seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, severe headache, muscle aches, skin rash, difficulty breathing, or yellowing of the eyes or skin.
She also urged people whose wounds became red, swollen, painful or begin to discharge pus, as well as those who accidentally swallow floodwater, to report to the nearest health facility without delay.
Although not everyone exposed to floodwater requires immediate treatment, she stressed that pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, individuals living with chronic illnesses and those with significant wounds should seek prompt medical evaluation.
On water safety, Ms Kporxah cautioned that rainwater was not automatically safe for drinking or cooking, especially during or after flooding. She explained that rainwater collected from roofs, gutters or open containers could be contaminated by bird and animal droppings, dust, leaves, bacteria, viruses, parasites and chemical pollutants.
She advised that rainwater intended for drinking should first be treated by boiling, chlorination or another approved water purification method before use.
Touching on food safety, Ms Kporxah said factory-sealed bottled drinks and canned foods with intact packaging might still be safe after flooding.
However, she stressed that any containers submerged in floodwater should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before handling. Foods in paper packaging, damaged containers or products with broken seals should be discarded because contaminated water may have seeped into them.
She further warned that flooding increases the risk of outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever and other waterborne diseases through contaminated water sources.
In addition, she said flooding could contribute to respiratory illnesses in overcrowded shelters and mould-infested buildings, foodborne illnesses from spoiled or contaminated food, and mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress, depression and trauma.
It could also disrupt access to medicines and healthcare for people living with chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, asthma and kidney disease.
Ms Kporxah therefore urged the public to practice good hygiene, avoid unnecessary contact with floodwater, consume only safe food and drinking water, and seek medical attention promptly whenever symptoms develop.
She said observing these preventive measures would help minimise the risk of disease outbreaks and protect lives as the country continues to experience heavy rains and flooding in some communities.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
