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Give local artists maximum attention — Ibrahim Mahama

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This week, we put the spotlight on a visionary and enthusiastic young artist who combines art, technology, science with other disciplines to produce a perfect work for people to admire or appreciate.

The Spectator interacted with Ibrahim Mahama, an international artist who is making waves in the Ghanaian Art industry, at Tamale, to know more about his artistic talent.

Professionally, Ibrahim Mahama, doubles as a  Ghanaian author and an artist.

This indefatigable young man, with an unstoppable love for art work is the founder of Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art  (SCCA), Tamale, Ghana.

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Background

Ibrahim Mahama is a Dagomba  from Tamale, in the Northern Region with Mr. Ibrahim Sulemana Mahama, and Madam Fati Mohammed as his parents.

He was born at Tamale but lived most of his life in Accra and has 10 siblings.

As an artist, Mahama has endeared himself to many and received worldwide acknowledgement for his large-scale installations crafted from jute sacks and other materials.

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He founded the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art at Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region of Ghana, last year.  The centre  produces and shares knowledge through exhibitions, workshops, publications and allied activities.

Originally designed as a studio  for artists, the core mission of SCCA is the development and expansion of the Ghanaian art industry.

He told The Spectator that, since its inception, it had quickly grown into a hub for research and local engagements.

It has a programme for artists’ residence and exhibitions at both SCCA and its sister institution known as “Red Clay”, where Mahama has his own studio.

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“SCCA, since its inception in 2019, has dedicated its programmes to unravelling modernist and contemporary histories in Ghanaian Art beginning with its 20th century progenitors”, he said.

Exhibitions

The international  artist, has exhibited his works widely and gained global recognition for his  artistry.

 “In 2019 alone, I had solo shows at the Whitworth in Manchester, the Norval Foundation in Cape Town, and Fondazione Giuliani in Rome”, he recalled.

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He reiterated that in February this year, he was featured in the inaugural edition of the Stellenbosch Triennale, in South Africa, a contemporary art exhibition featuring the finest art from Africa to the world.

Education

Mahama has a Master of Fine Arts in Painting and Sculpture and a Bachelors in Fine Arts in Painting  from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Kumasi, Ghana.

He attended Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary at Koforidua in the Eastern Region and pursued Visual Arts.

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Challenges

The ‘never-say-never’ artist who never relents on his efforts by making SCCA and Red Clay a world-class art and tourist centre bemoaned how some stakeholders refused to collaborate with the centre.

Appeal

He indicated that, “Art was part of human’s existence and must be given the maximum attention because art generates revenue and boosts the Gross Domestic Product of a nation.”

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He appealed to Ghanaians to cultivate the habit of patronising their own, adding that both the SCCA and Red Clay had more fascinating works by renowned artists to offer Ghanaians.

Ibrahim Mahama asked government to give support to children and students offering Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes in order to enable them to pursue their courses without any difficulty.

Commendation

Ibrahim Mahama who speaks English, Dagbani and Twi fluently, commended his team for their dedicated and selfless services.

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He loves reading and watching movies and preferred fufu with goat soap.

By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah

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Entertainment

Dierre Doors names King Promise as Brand Ambassador for Ghana campaign

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Italian premium security door manufacturer Dierre S.p.A. has named award-winning Ghanaian Afrobeats and Highlife artiste King Promise (Gregory Bortey Newman) as the face of its new Ghana and West Africa marketing campaign.

The partnership, managed by Regiments Management Company Limited, forms part of Dierre’s efforts to strengthen its presence in the West African market.

The two-week campaign, themed “Secure What Matters,” will run across digital, outdoor and influencer platforms, with King Promise featuring in a campaign film showcasing Dierre’s Prestige and Synergy security door ranges.

“Home is everything. It is where you protect the people and things that matter most. Dierre builds doors that reflect exactly that security, quality and style without compromise. I am proud to represent a brand that stands for those values,” King Promise said.

Founded in Italy, Dierre is a global manufacturer of armoured security doors, interior doors and fire-protection systems. Its products carry international anti-burglary certifications across Classes 3, 4 and 5, with the company producing hundreds of thousands of doors, locks and safes annually.

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King Promise is one of Ghana’s leading Afrobeats and Highlife artistes, known for his distinctive sound, international collaborations and growing global audience.

The partnership combines Dierre’s security and design expertise with King Promise’s influence in contemporary African music and culture, as the brand expands its consumer engagement in Ghana and across West Africa.

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From a room to a global enterprise: The Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye story

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• Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye
• Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye

From humble beginnings to building an enterprise with global ambitions, Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye’s journey is a story of discipline, independence, resilience and the belief that businesses should be built to outlive their founders.

Long before he became the Group Chairman of M&C Group, Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye was building from modest beginnings.

Mr Vanderpuye recieves a citation at the 100 Most Notable African Leadership Excellence Awards

His entrepreneurial journey did not start in a sophisticated corporate office or with a large team behind him.

At one stage, he was working from his room with limited resources, focused on turning an idea into a viable business.

That beginning became an important part of his philosophy: build the business first, then let the infrastructure grow with it.

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Michael Bartlett-Vanderpuye

Michael’s early experiences shaped his determination to become an entrepreneur. After university and periods of professional employment, including banking, accounting, marketing, packaging and logistics, he developed a deeper understanding of how businesses operate and how different industries connect.

 His exposure to mining advisory work, property and other commercial opportunities broadened his perspective and helped him identify opportunities beyond a single sector.

But the journey was far from easy.

He recalls the uncertainty of sending proposal after proposal without knowing which one would eventually open a door.

Even after establishing an office in East Legon, some people assumed he was working for someone else because they could not imagine that the business belonged to him.

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The confidence and corporate presence associated with success today were built through years of uncertainty, rejection, experimentation and persistence.

His evolution from working out of a room to leading M&C Group reflects a broader philosophy that has guided his business life: do not build an image before you build the substance.

For Michael, entrepreneurship is not simply about owning a company. It is about learning how to turn knowledge, relationships, opportunities and resources into sustainable value.

He believes professionals in every field can develop an entrepreneurial mindset by creating assets, building networks, investing in opportunities and developing additional sources of value alongside their careers.

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That philosophy has influenced the way he approaches business expansion. Rather than viewing companies as isolated entities, Michael sees opportunities to create connections between industries, people and services.

Strategic partnerships, in his view, can create greater value than treating every other business as a competitor.

His approach has also been shaped by research and international exposure. He argues that entrepreneurs must understand the markets they enter rather than simply copy businesses they see succeeding elsewhere.

Behind every successful enterprise, he believes, are structures, regulations, relationships, research and decisions that may not be immediately visible from the outside.

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As his business interests have grown, so has his ambition. M&C Group represents a significant chapter in that evolution, reflecting his drive to build an enterprise that extends beyond a single venture.

His vision is rooted not merely in personal wealth, but in creating businesses capable of generating employment, developing people, building partnerships and contributing to the wider economy.

Michael is particularly concerned about the role of the private sector in addressing unemployment and creating sustainable opportunities. For him, a successful business should ultimately do more than enrich its owner. It should employ people, develop skills, support suppliers and create opportunities that extend beyond the founder.

That long-term perspective is central to his understanding of success.

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He is cautious about equating visibility with achievement. In an age where social media can make a business appear larger than it is, Michael believes the real measure of an enterprise lies in its systems, customers, assets, operations and results. The brand should be supported by substance.

His personal journey has therefore become a lesson in patience and discipline. The man who once had to convince people that the business was actually his now speaks about building systems, protecting capital, understanding markets and thinking beyond the immediate reward.

And his ambitions do not stop with the present generation.

Michael describes legacy as something that should extend beyond his children to future generations. His objective is to build something sustainable-something that can continue creating value after he is no longer at the centre of it.

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From a modest room and limited resources to the boardroom and the development of a growing business group, Michael L. Bartlett-Vanderpuye’s story is ultimately about building before displaying, learning before expanding and creating something designed to last.

His journey is a reminder that global ambition does not necessarily begin with global resources. Sometimes, it begins with little more than an idea, discipline, persistence and the willingness to start where you are. – MyStoryMagazine

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