Entertainment
Mawuko Kuadzi wins maiden Best Casting Director award at 15th Ghana Movie Awards
Ghanaian casting director Mawuko Kuadzi has etched his name in the country’s film history, becoming the first-ever winner of the newly introduced Best Casting Director category at the 15th Ghana Movie Awards (GMA) held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra on Sunday, June 7, 2026.
The star-studded ceremony, which attracted a host of Ghanaian and African celebrities, saw Mawuko Kuadzi take home the historic award for his work on the film The Fisherman.
He beat fellow nominees Naomi Osei Mensah (King of Tema), Frank Rajah (Virgin of the Throne), and the duo Rawdrick Lartey Junior and Omar Krupp (Ghana Map).
The category, introduced for the first time in the awards’ 15-year history, mirrors a similar addition by the Academy Awards (Oscars) and celebrates the critical role of casting directors as the “Human Resource Managers” of the creative economy.
Mawuko Kuadzi’s win comes on the heels of groundbreaking international achievements. In 2025 and again in 2026, he became the first African in 40 years to win the prestigious ARTIOS Award from the Casting Society of America (CSA), firmly placing Ghana on the global casting map.
His international acclaim also led the Ghana Leadership Awards to create and bestow upon him the Best Casting Director honor in 2024.
Observers note that this progression sends a powerful message: when a professional consistently delivers excellence, industry bodies are compelled to take notice and create platforms to honor that contribution.
The biggest honor of the evening, Best Picture, went to Sukura, a production that also featured an executive producer in a lead role.
The film King of Tema took home the Best Editing award, while The Fisherman, which earned Mawuko Kuadzi his historic casting award also won Best Visual Effect. Several veteran actors and rising stars were also celebrated across various categories.
The red carpet at the Kempinski Hotel was a spectacular affair, drawing a who is who of Ghanaian and African entertainment.
Among the Ghanaian stars who graced the event were Fred Amugi, Jackie Appiah, Yvonne Nelson, Nana Ama McBrown, Kweku Manu, Dr Likee, Juliet Ibrahim, Salma Mumin, Hajia4Reall, AJ Poundz, Ahuofe Patri, Charly DGH, and James Gardiner.
Nigerian representation was strong, with actors Deyemi Okanlawon, Daniel Etim Effiong, and celebrated filmmaker Kunle Afolayan all walking the red carpet, underscoring the deepening creative ties between Ghana and Nigeria.
A major highlight was an emotional tribute to legendary highlife musician Daddy Lumba, veteran actress Beverly Afaglo, and Nigerian actor Alexx Ekubo, with a cross-border performance that moved the audience.
The National Film Authority used the platform to urge stakeholders to contribute to a film industry fund, signaling a push for greater financial and institutional backing for the sector
The leadership of the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP), present at the ceremony, praised the Ghana Movie Awards for its forward-looking approach.
“The Ghana Movie Awards is holding the fort for the creative economy,” a chamber spokesperson said. “Film is the mother industry. Any initiative that sustains the film sector multiplies jobs across the entire economy.”
With his maiden GMA win, Mawuko Kuadzi has
now achieved a rare triple: Ghana Leadership Awards honoree (2024), two-time ARTIOS winner (2025, 2026), and now the first ever Best Casting Director at the Ghana Movie Awards.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghanaian musician Ezecheal Kwasi Asimeng Frimpong, popularly known as Ancienth has released a new Palmwine single titled ‘Asukese Abena’.
The song is a celebration of love, culture, and the timeless wisdom embedded in Ghana’s traditional way of life.
According to him, the project is meant to remind people that Palmwine music is not a relic of the past.
“Through this project, I want people to understand that Palmwine music is not a relic of the past, it is a living heritage that still speaks powerfully to the present,” he said.
Ancienth traces his journey in Palmwine music to the pioneering work of Kwame Asare, also known as Jacob Sam, and the Kumasi Trio. He credits them with laying the foundation for one of Ghana’s most important musical traditions, a path that later generations continue to walk.
“I entered this space because I believe every nation must protect its cultural voice,” Ancienth explained, adding that “Palmwine music carries our stories, values, humour, history, and identity. Preserving it is not only a musical responsibility but also a cultural one.”
The musician described the journey as rewarding but challenging, noting that traditional music often receives less attention and investment compared to mainstream genres.
To strengthen the space, he is calling for greater support from the media, cultural institutions, educational bodies, and the public.
“My appeal to Ghanaians is simple, support indigenous music, because when a people lose their cultural sound, they gradually lose part of their identity,” he added.
As a torchbearer of Palmwine Music, Ancienth says his mission is to honour the legacy of the pioneers while introducing Palmwine music to new generations and audiences across the world.
Asukese Abena is now available on all digital platforms, including YouTube
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has expressed profound sorrow over the death of celebrated visual artist and Guinness World Record holder Sharon Dede Padi, popularly known as Padiki.
In a statement signed on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer, Maame Efua Houadjeto, the Authority said Padiki’s passing was a painful loss to Ghana’s tourism and creative sectors, as well as the nation at large.
“Padiki was more than a Guinness World Record holder. She was a beacon of resilience, determination, creativity, and youthful excellence whose remarkable achievement brought pride not only to herself and her family but also to Ghana,” the statement said.
It added that through her determination to dream big and push boundaries, she inspired countless young people to believe that passion, perseverance and hard work could make the impossible possible.
The Authority said Ghana had lost “one of its brightest ambassadors whose story embodied the spirit of innovation, excellence, and the boundless potential of our people”.
Maame Efua Houadjeto, together with the management and staff of the GTA, extended condolences to Padiki’s family, friends and loved ones, as well as all those inspired by her journey.
