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
The National Identification Authority has resumed the Ghana Card registration exercise for children between the ages of 6 and 14 in the Volta and Oti regions.
According to the Authority, the exercise begins on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority.
In a statement issued on May 4, the NIA said the exercise forms part of a nationwide campaign aimed at registering about 3.1 million children to strengthen Ghana’s national identity system.
The Authority explained that the Volta and Oti regions are the first areas selected for the phased national rollout, with each phase expected to last at least 21 days.
Registration teams are expected to move from school to school, covering both public and private institutions, to register eligible children.
The NIA said registration will take place daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
It added that children within the age bracket who are not in school can visit designated schools or registration centres in their communities to register.
According to the Authority, parents or guardians registering a child must present the child’s original birth certificate, valid Ghanaian passport or certificate of acquired citizenship.
Where these documents are unavailable, a parent, relative or legal guardian may complete an Oath of Identity form.
The NIA further explained that in cases where a child has no known relatives, two Social Welfare Officers may vouch for the child under oath.
Parents and guardians who have enrolled their children onto the National Health Insurance Scheme were encouraged to present the child’s NHIS card or number during registration.
The Authority stressed that persons presenting children for registration must be Ghanaian citizens, at least 18 years old, mentally sound and possess a valid Ghana Card.
The NIA also advised children who registered during the 2024 pilot phase but have not yet received their cards to visit their district offices for collection.
The Authority warned that providing false information or assisting in the registration of non-Ghanaians is a criminal offence punishable by law.
It reaffirmed its commitment to building a secure, reliable and inclusive national identity system for all Ghanaians.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Police in the Aburi District arrested 11 suspects for alleged possession of arms and ammunition without authority in connection with the Adambrobe chieftaincy dispute, the Command revealed on Monday.
Ten suspects were arrested on Sunday, May 3, at Adambrobe, Aburi.
Police identified them as Dawu Joseph, a farmer; Kwame Aboagye, a vulcanizer; Samuel Obeng, a taxi driver in Adambrobe; Owusu Paul, a member of the Adambrobe Asekyere family; Jerry John Kwame Atilla, a businessman in Sowutuom; and private security men Evans Dekadzor, Christian Atsu, Samuel Annan, Thomas Davidson, and Richard Agyeman.
The Aburi District Command retrieved five pump-action rifles, 23 live cartridges, one taser, six phones, and one body armor during the operation.
Police also impounded two vehicles used to transport the suspects: an unregistered Ford pickup and a Toyota Corolla with registration number GE 2560-19.
An additional suspect, Douglas Amoako Danquah, was arrested Monday, May 4, after being sighted in a procession within the area, police said.
The arrests are linked to the ongoing chieftaincy dispute in Adambrobe.
Suspects are currently in police custody assisting in investigations.
The Eastern Regional Police Command assured the public of their continued commitment to maintaining peace and stability in Adambrobe and urge all parties to exercise restraint.
