Entertainment
iShowSpeed Live Stream: A win for Ghana Tourism
iShowSpeed, known in private life as Darren Jason Watkins Jr. is a 21-year-old American YouTube streamer known for unfiltered contents, games, and athleticism, among others.
Currently, he has over 50 million subscribers on YouTube, over 47 million subscribers on TikTok, 45 million on instagram and over eight million following on facebook and millions on other platforms like Snapchat, twitch as well as X
iShowspeed averages between 80 to 100 million views per post on TikTok, and largely his primary audience on these platforms are African Americans, europeans and Africans among others.
In 2024, Ghana’s tourism sector generated $4.82 billion, contributing significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) after receiving about 1.2 million inbound tourists.
Interestingly, out of this number, America, Nigeria and the UK were our top three countries where most of our visitors came from.
America was number one with 137,862, followed by Nigeria with 111,581 and the UK, with 52,845 people.
This means that in a world where influence is a currency and visibility is a power which can be turned into wealth generation, Ghana must maximise every digital marketing opportunity which has the tendency to help consolidate the gains in these countries.
Millions could be pumped into different advertising ventures, but it would have been difficult to generate the earned media and organic conversation which the country is receiving from all over the world as a result of the live stream.
This postive reviews the country is receiving since the stream can be turned into bookings, visits, investments, employment and others from short, medium, to long term.
It is therefore not surprising that the stream has led to the Shea Butter Museum being fully booked till March 16, 2026.
We should not also lose sight of the fact that tourism goes beyond visiting. It includes spending in markets, hotel accommodation, transportation (flight, vehicle, and other forms), tourist sites, destination marketers, food and other industries in the value chain. These industries hugely benefit from tourism as the mother of other sectors.
Clearly, the country could leverage global visibility through the iShowSpeed lens and platforms, along with millions of reviews from content creators worldwide, to build significant equity.
This could be turned into a soft power, to introduce our tourism assets, among others, to the rest of the world.
It must be noted that this visit is hinged on tourism marketing through digital media, which is crucial in today’s world of advertising for future growth.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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Gospel artiste, Obaapa Christy has officially launched her annual concert, ‘Royal Praise 2026’, set to be held in Accra and Kumasi this August.
The maiden Accra edition comes off Sunday, August 9, at the UPSA Auditorium. She will be joined on stage by gospel heavyweights Empress Gifty, Celestine Donkor, Joyce Blessing, Kweku Gyasi, Uncle Ato, and Akesse Brempong.
The Kumasi edition follows a week later on Sunday, August 16, at the Church of Pentecost, Bantama.
Patrons there can expect performances from legendary Mama Esther, Broda Sammy, Ernest Opoku, Joyce Blessing, Kwame Gyedu, and Lady Prempeh.
Speaking at the launch at Alisa Hotel on June 12, Obaapa Christy explained that the event was christened Royal Praise, “because as a child of God, I see myself as royalty, same as you. We are all royals in the house of God.”
She urged attendees to embrace the ‘royal’ theme with their dress code and said the concert was meant to stay as an annual event to honour God for His works.
According to her, the event has come to stay, and called on all and sundry to support.
Obaapa Christy thanked fans and sponsors for supporting the launch and expressed optimism for more backing ahead of the main events.
Supporting artistes on the bill who attended the launch threw their weight behind the maiden edition and called on Ghanaians to throng the venues in their numbers.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Fashion enthusiasts, shoppers, and industry stakeholders gathered at the A&C Mall at East Legon on Saturday as Ghanaian fashion brand, Neesa Atelier officially opened its newest retail outlet to unveil an exclusive capsule collection inspired by West Africa’s rich cultural heritage.
The launch, held as an intimate ‘Sip & Shop’ experience, marked a significant milestone for the growing fashion brand as it expanded its physical presence while showcasing its latest collection, Dust & Raffia.
The collection offers a creative exploration of the cultural links between Ghana and Mali, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary fashion design. Guests at the event were given a first look at the limited-edition pieces, which featured a hand-spun cord, raffia, jute, and Bogolan (mudcloth) elements.
According to the Creative Director of Neesa Atelier, Pamela Sarkodee, the collection celebrates the enduring connections among African communities and highlights the beauty of indigenous craftsmanship.
“This collection celebrates the stories that connect us across borders. By bringing together Bogolan, raffia, jute, and cordwork, we wanted to create pieces that honour heritage while presenting a contemporary vision of African luxury,” she said.
Throughout the event, guests toured the new retail space, interacted with the collection, and enjoyed an exclusive shopping experience that included special in-store offers. The occasion also provided an opportunity for fashion lovers to engage with the brand’s vision of blending culture, creativity, and community.
The Dust & Raffia collection draws inspiration from the textures, symbols, and traditions that have connected Ghanaian and Malian communities over generations. Through the use of natural materials and handcrafted techniques, the collection seeks to preserve cultural narratives while presenting them through modern fashion.
The new A&C Mall outlet has been designed to provide customers with an immersive shopping experience, giving them access to Neesa Atelier’s signature collections as well as future releases within one of Accra’s leading retail and lifestyle destinations.
Industry observers say the expansion reinforces Neesa Atelier’s growing reputation within Ghana’s fashion industry as a contemporary African brand committed to celebrating identity, heritage, and craftsmanship through innovative design.
The Dust & Raffia capsule collection is currently available for pre-order, with a wider public release expected in the coming weeks.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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