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 29-year-old tricycle rider, Naah Mashood, has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a three-year-old girl at Tiegber in the Wa Municipality.
The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Upper West Regional Police Command arrested the suspect on February 24, 2026, following a complaint lodged by the victim’s mother.
According to police, the convict, who had been contracted by the parents to pick the victim to and from school, lured her to an isolated location on February 23, 2026, and sexually assaulted her inside his tricycle, popularly known as ‘Camboo’.
After thorough investigations, he was arraigned before the Wa District Magistrate Court and subsequently stood trial at the Wa High Court.
On October 30, 2026, His Lordship Justice Osei-Wusu found him guilty of defilement and sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour.
The Upper West Regional Police Command has commended the officers involved in the investigation and prosecution, as well as all persons who contributed to ensuring justice was served.
The Command urged parents and guardians to keep a close eye on their children and ensure their safety at all times, and encouraged the public to report suspected cases of child abuse and defilement to the nearest police station or DOVVSU office for prompt action.
It further assured the public of its commitment to protecting children and ensuring perpetrators of sexual offences are brought to justice.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has announced the arrest of three suspected members of a criminal syndicate believed to be behind a series of robberies targeting bank customers in Kumasi and its environs.
On October 31, 2026, at about 11:30 pm, an IGP’s Special Team, comprising personnel from the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit of the CID Headquarters and the Accra Regional Police Intelligence Directorate (PID), acting on intelligence, embarked on an operation to apprehend the suspects.
The operation led to the arrest of two Nigerian nationals, Aboy Promise, 30, and Favour Uwalaka, 45, at a hotel at Moshie Zongo. A search of their rooms resulted in the recovery of GH¢1,600.00, assorted mobile phones, a Royal motorbike and a master key used to gain unauthorized access to victims’ vehicles to steal cash.
During interrogation, the suspects admitted their involvement in the robberies and mentioned two accomplices, Chinedu, alias Alhaji, and Kingsley, alias KC.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the syndicate monitored banking premises, identified customers who withdrew substantial sums of money and trailed them before attacking and robbing them. They also broke into unattended vehicles belonging to bank customers using a master key to steal cash kept inside.
The suspects subsequently led the police team to another hotel at Dechemso, a suburb of Kumasi, where Kingsley, alias KC, 35, also a Nigerian national, was arrested.
The remaining accomplice, Chinedu, alias Alhaji, is currently on the run. The Command is appealing to the public to volunteer credible information that could lead to his arrest. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to report to the nearest police station or contact the police through emergency numbers 191, 112 or the toll-free MTN and Telecel line 18555.
The suspects admitted to robbing a victim of GH¢15,000.00 at Asokore Mampong on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, after the victim had withdrawn money from Kwamang Rural Bank. They also admitted to similar robberies at the Atonsu branch of Fidelity Bank, the Ahodwo branch of Access Bank and other locations within Kumasi and its environs.
The three arrested suspects have since been handed over to the Ashanti Regional Police Command and are assisting with investigations.
The Command has cautioned bank customers to remain vigilant, be alert to suspicious persons around banking premises and avoid leaving cash or other valuables unattended in vehicles, while commending the public for their continued cooperation and assuring residents of its commitment to combating robbery and other criminal activities in the region.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
