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All set for Akwaaba Fest from March 5-7
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A programme aimed at driving the youth economy and a global platform to project Ghana’s cultural assets to the rest of the world has been launched.
The event dubbed Akwaaba Festival is part of Ghana’s preparation to mark another Independence anniversary, one of the country’s most significant youth-driven cultural, tourism, and lifestyle platforms.
This edition marks the 5th year, and the festival has evolved into a multi-day national cultural season, running before, during, and after March 6, transforming Independence celebrations into a vibrant, inclusive, and economically impactful experience.
Anchored to Ghana’s Independence calendar, Akwaaba Festival is more than entertainment. It is a commercial, cultural, and tourism ecosystem that delivers measurable value for brands, creatives, SMEs, media, government institutions, and the wider economy, while amplifying youth participation, cultural preservation, and nation branding.
A Festival with Purpose
Akwaaba Festival’s vision is to position Ghana as a leading cultural destination by showcasing the country’s creative power, heritage, and modern lifestyle to Africa and the global diaspora.
The festival actively deepens youth engagement in Independence celebrations, promotes Ghanaian culture across music, fashion, food, and art, and stimulates tourism, hospitality, and SME growth during Independence week.
The festival attracts a highly engaged audience of young professionals, students, creatives, entrepreneurs, tourists, diaspora visitors, media, influencers, and tastemakers–an audience that values authenticity, storytelling, and purpose-led brands.
Economic Growth
Creating revenue opportunities for vendors, designers, musicians, service providers, and hospitality businesses, while generating jobs across the creative and events value chain.
Cultural preservation and innovation, showcasing music, fashion, dance, and art from all 16 regions of Ghana, and providing platforms for emerging talent alongside established cultural icons. Tourism and nation branding, positioning Ghana as a vibrant Independence-season destination and enhancing visitor experience beyond official state ceremonies.
As part of the festival, there would be a vive fair (Cultural Trade & Lifestyle market), Akwaaba Experience (Free Independence Concert), National Open Mic Concert, Tribal Fashion Parade, Cultural Displays, Dance & DJ Experience among others.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has taken note of public allegations of extortion and related conduct made against the Minority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
The allegations were made by the Chief Executive of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi.
In a brief statement, the OSP said it has also received a joint petition submitted by two persons, as well as two separate petitions from other persons, in relation to the same allegations.
“Given the nature of the allegations, the OSP will assess the case and determine whether it falls within its statutory mandate and whether further investigative action is warranted,” the statement said.
The development comes amid a heated public feud between the Minority in Parliament and the leadership of GoldBod over the operations of the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
The Minority, led by Afenyo-Markin, has accused GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana of causing a loss of over $1.7 billion, citing the International Monetary Fund’s August 2026 report. The Minority has vowed to pursue the matter as Parliament has reconvened for an emergency sitting.
GoldBod, on the other hand, has rejected claims by some NPP MPs, including Tano South MP Dr Gideon Boako, that it owes the Bank of Ghana GH¢1 billion in overdrafts, describing the claim as “false and malicious.”
In the latest twist, GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi has accused the Minority Leader of extortion and related conduct, an allegation that has triggered petitions to the OSP.
The OSP is mandated under Act 959 to investigate and prosecute specific cases of alleged or suspected corruption and corruption-related offences involving public officers and politically exposed persons.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.
He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.
Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.
“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.
He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.
“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.
His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.
The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.
The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
