Hot!
Glitz, glamour at Black Star International Film Festival Awards
Some dignitaries at the event
The Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF) came to a successful end in Accra recently with an awards ceremony for outstanding filmmakers.
The festival’s awards night dubbed ‘Black Stars Awards’ celebrated creativity, finesse, collaboration, innovation and above all, recognised the exploits of the African film industry.
The BSIFF is an annual film festival that takes place in Accra.
The festival aims to promote and celebrate the works of filmmakers from Africa and the African diaspora, as well as provide a platform for African films to be showcased on an international stage.
BSIFF was founded in 2016 by Juliet Asante, a Ghanaian filmmaker and actress, with the aim of creating a space for African cinema to be celebrated and recognised. The festival features film screenings, panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities for filmmakers, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts.
The festival accepts submissions of feature-length and short films in various categories, including fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental films. BSIFF also presents awards in different categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, Best Documentary, Best Animation, and Best Student Film.
BSIFF has become a prominent event in the African film industry, attracting filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals from across the continent and beyond. The festival has also played a crucial role in promoting the growth of the film industry in Ghana and Africa as a whole.
The ninth edition took place from September 18 -24.
By Michael D. Abayateye
Hot!
Prof Alidu Seidu files nomination for Tamale Central seat
The newly elected parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Tamale Central, Prof Alidu Seidu, has submitted his nomination forms to the Electoral Commission.
As of 10:00 a.m. today, he was the only person who had filed to contest the seat.
Nomination of candidates will close at the end of the day.
Associate Professor and Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana Legon, Prof. Alidu Seidu won the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries in the Tamale Central constituency with a landslide victory.
The elections, supervised by the party’s Elections and IT Directorate in the Northern Region, saw Prof. Seidu poll 840 votes out of the total valid ballots cast.
His closest contender, Lawyer Hanan Gundadow Abdul-Rahaman, secured 536 votes.
The other aspirants could not make significant gains, with Dr. Seidu Fiter obtaining 44 votes, Aliu Abdul-Hamid 23 votes, and the rest recording fewer than 10 votes each.
In all, 1,500 ballots were cast, with 6 ballots rejected and 7 spoilt ballots recorded.
The results were signed and declared by Dr. Arnold Mashud Abukari, NDC Northern Regional Director of Elections and IT.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) held parliamentary primaries in Tamale Central to choose a candidate for the upcoming by-election following the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed. Dr. Mohammed, who also served as Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, tragically died in a military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District on August 6, 2025, alongside seven others.
His passing left the Tamale Central seat vacant, as required by Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
The Electoral Commission has scheduled the by-election for September 30, 2025. While the NDC moved quickly to open nominations and vet aspirants, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) announced it would not contest the seat, citing the need to respect the somber circumstances and promote national unity.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Hot!
Ghana to locally refine its gold starting October 2025 – Sammy Gyamfi
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, has announced that plans are far advanced for the establishment of a state-owned gold refinery in the country.
Speaking at the 2025 Minerals and Mining Convention, Mr Gyamfi said the refinery will process locally mined gold into bullion instead of exporting it in its raw state.
According to him, it is unacceptable that Ghana, despite being a leading gold producer in Africa, continues to export raw gold known as dore.
He explained that the Gold Board, working with the Bank of Ghana and local refineries, will from October 2025 begin refining gold locally.
He also disclosed that an ultramodern assay laboratory will be built to ensure international standards in testing gold quality.
Mr Gyamfi noted that the refinery will be wholly state-owned and will help Ghana move away from raw mineral exports to value addition.
This, he said, will boost foreign exchange earnings, create jobs, and position Ghana as a hub for gold refining and jewellery production in Africa.
The CEO stressed that the project forms part of government’s strategy to ensure the country benefits fully from its natural resources and to transform the mining sector into a driver of economic growth.
By: Jacob Aggrey
