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Kwabena Kwabena became a bigger artiste after endorsing Akufo-Addo – Okraku Mantey

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Deputy Minister for Tourism Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku Mantey has shared a contrary view to claims that political affiliations lead to a decline in brand values of entertainers.

According to him, for someone’s brand value to soar or dim depends on the individual.

The Deputy Minister made this assertion on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z last Saturday.

Mark Okraku made reference to Kwabena Kwabena as an artiste’s whose career excelled and became vibrant even after he endorsed Nana Akufo-Addo as Presidential Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“Kwabena Kwabena became a bigger artiste after ‘NPP Wo Soro’ [song]. Yea, Kwabena Kwabena became a bigger after endorsing Candidate Akufo-Addo. So if you have your issues don’t blame them on the political parties,” he said.

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He added that “If you manage yourself well, you position yourself well as a brand, [you will thrive].”

“I spoke with some companies that I used to work with. I said you guys because I am now in politics you wouldn’t want to work with me. They said when I am done with politics, I should come and that they are ready to still do business with me,” he said.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

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All set for Ghana Comedy Awards 2026

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Ghana’s comedy industry would take centre stage today, when the sixth edition of the Ghana Comedy Awards is held at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Ridge, Accra. 

The event, which has become the country’s premier platform for recognising excellence in comedy since it rebranded from the Comedy and Poetry Awards, would celebrate comedians whose performances and contributions stood out between January 1 and December 31, 2025. 

This year’s ceremony would begin with a red-carpet session at 7:00 p.m., followed by the main awards event at 8:30 p.m. 

Organisers have promised an evening of entertainment featuring some of Ghana’s foremost comedy talents, including Lekzy, Jeneral Ntatia, Kojo PJay, Oh Joo, Alo Wess, Ranzy Ray and Jerry Ashinyo.  

Musical performances are also expected to complement the comedy acts. 

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Media personality Kwame Dadzie would play host for the event, which is expected to attract comedians, entertainers and fans from across the country. 

Tickets for the awards are selling at GH¢200 for the silver package and GH¢300 for Gold. 

The organisers have also urged the public to support their favourite nominees by voting before polls close at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 1. Voting can be done by dialling 71333*009# and entering the nominee’s code.  

Beyond honouring outstanding performers, the Ghana Comedy Awards seeks to celebrate the growth of Ghana’s comedy industry and the talents who continue to entertain audiences nationwide. -GNA 

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Ghanaian film ‘Eco Reach We All’ secures world premiere at 79th Locarno Film Festival

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After years of development, funding, and creative grit, Ghanaian feature film “Ego Reach We All” has earned an official nomination to make its world premiere at the 79th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland this month.

Formerly titled Vagabonds, the 105-minute drama was written and directed by Amartei Armar and produced by Yemoh Ike.

 It marks one of the biggest international breakthroughs for Ghanaian cinema in recent years.

The film was shot entirely in Ghana with a Ghanaian cast and crew, grounding it in authentic local culture.

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 Post-production was completed in France, a collaboration that Director Amartei Armar says reflects the film’s spirit, “A Ghanaian story told with the world.”

The journey began in 2018 when the short film version won at the Montreal World Film Festival, an Oscar-qualifying event.

 From there, ‘Ego Reach We All’ grew into a full-length feature backed by some of the most respected names in global film development: Winner – Cannes Focus CoPro, Recipient – Red Sea Development Fund, Honoree – Red Sea Souk Award and Backed by – Red Sea Productions Fund.

Industry watchers have called it one of the most promising African film projects to emerge in the last decade.

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Beyond awards, the project was shaped in top international labs.

Armar was selected for the Heyazah Screening Lab in Doha, Qatar, to refine the film’s narrative. 

Producer, Yemoh Ike joined the prestigious, 2023 EAVE Producers Programme under a CNC scholarship, with training sessions in Luxembourg, Austria, and the Netherlands. 

Most recently, the film was chosen for the 2025 Atlas Workshop in Marrakesh, Morocco, cementing its place in global cinema circles.

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Casts include, Idrissu Tontie, Dorothy Adobea Tandoh, Emmanuel Wilberforce, Barbara Yong Jin, Emmanuel Owusu Ofori, O’Bryan Kwame Enyan, Gabriel Narh Addo, Nelly Bilson, and Kwame Brenya.

For the team, Locarno is not just a festival slot. It’s validation that Ghanaian stories, told by Ghanaians, can compete on the world’s most respected stages.

“Principal photography was done entirely by Ghanaian creatives,” the producers noted.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

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