News
All set for Akwaaba Fest from March 5-7
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
Minister for Government Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, has dismissed claims that staff salaries at the Presidency have increased under the current administration, describing the allegation as a “flat lie”.
In a response to a post on Facebook, Ofosu Kwakye said the current staff at the Presidency inherited the same salaries and conditions approved for their predecessors.
He argued that once arrears owed to former Article 71 office holders are paid, the total wage bill for the current administration will actually be lower due to a reduction in staff numbers.
“It is in fact a mathematical certainty that the total amount paid in salaries to the current staff will be smaller compared to yours once your arrears are paid because of the reduction in numbers,” he stated.
The Minister noted that delays in paying arrears to past Article 71 office holders are not new.
“Arrears owed to past Article 71 office holders is nothing new or unheard of. Many others before you have suffered same,” he said.
Ofosu Kwakye also stressed that the salaries and conditions in question were approved by Parliament on 6th January 2025, under the previous government.
He pointed out that the Constitution bars any changes to those salaries until a new committee is set up to determine emoluments for Article 71 office holders under the new administration.
“No such committee has been set up by President Mahama and no alteration has been made,” he clarified.
“So on what basis, apart from pure lies and mischief, can a claim of ballooning be made?” he concluded.
The response follows public debate over the size and cost of the presidential staff, with critics alleging a spike in the wage bill.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, has initiated plea negotiations with the Attorney General’s office in the GH₵30 million Exim Bank fraud case.
Information available to ghanaiantimes.com.gh indicates that lawyers for Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi & 2 other accused have formally written to the Attorney General to enter into plea negotiations on the charges of defrauding by false pretenses, money laundering, and intentionally causing financial loss to a public body.
A plea bargain, under Section 162C of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act 1079), allows an accused person to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for a reduced sentence.
The agreement must be approved by the court after the Attorney General assesses factors such as the strength of evidence, recovery of state funds, and public interest.
Wontumi is facing four counts after his arrest by the Economic and Organised Crime Office in May 2025.
Prosecutors allege he used forged documents to secure a GH₵30 million facility from the Ghana Export-Import Bank to finance equipment for his mining company, Akonta Mining Ltd.
The state further charges him with money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and was granted GH₵50 million bail with two sureties. The case is currently before the Accra High Court.
The Attorney General’s office is yet to confirm whether negotiations will proceed.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
