Chief Executive Officer and Founding President of PANAFRICA-GHANA, Ras Caleb, has described President John Dramani Mahama’s participation in Nyabinghi drumming during his official visit to Jamaica as a carefully planned and highly symbolic gesture rather than a spontaneous cultural moment.

Speaking in an interview with KPDOnline.com, Ras Caleb said the President’s engagement with members of the Rastafarian community carried profound meaning because of what Nyabinghi represents within the movement.

According to him, Nyabinghi is a symbol of resistance against oppression.

“Nyabinghi means death to the oppressor, whether Black or white. That’s the meaning of the word Nyabinghi,” he explained.

Ras Caleb said Mahama’s decision to join the drummers was significant because it reflected an understanding of the values and message associated with the Rastafarian community.

“It means a lot to us because they have listened to us. Recently, during the Reparations Conference, they started singing the emancipation song, Bob Marley’s Redemption Song. The Rastas are very vocal,” he said.

He stressed that the President’s interaction with the Nyabinghi drummers was intentional and formed part of a broader cultural engagement during the visit.

“That’s why the President decided. It was not just an afterthought. It’s something that he planned,” Ras Caleb stated.

He said Mahama’s subsequent visit to the Bob Marley Museum further demonstrated that the engagements were deliberate and meaningful.

Ras Caleb also recalled that Ghana’s former President Jerry John Rawlings similarly maintained a close relationship with Rita Marley, noting that such engagements have long reflected the historical ties between Ghana and Jamaica.

According to him, members of the Rastafarian community viewed Mahama’s participation as recognition of their long-standing advocacy and contribution to African liberation thought.

“To us as Rastas, it means we have been recognised. We are thinkers and liberated people. He came to us to seek that kind of symbolism,” he added.

Background

President John Dramani Mahama is on an official state visit to Jamaica at the invitation of Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness. The visit forms part of efforts to strengthen diplomatic relations between Ghana and Jamaica while expanding cooperation in trade, education, tourism, investment, culture and other areas of mutual interest.

During the visit, President Mahama held bilateral talks with Jamaican government officials and participated in engagements focused on strengthening ties between the two countries. He also attended activities connected to the growing partnership between Ghana and Caribbean nations.

One of the highlights of the visit was his interaction with members of Jamaica’s Rastafarian community, where he joined traditional Nyabinghi drummers in a performance that attracted widespread attention on social media. The President later visited the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, where he toured the historic site dedicated to the life and legacy of the reggae icon.

Ghanaian fashion designer, model, and beauty queen Naa Asheley Nartey has earned widespread admiration following her remarkable performance as Ghana’s official representative at the Miss Supranational 2026 pageant.

Unlike many national beauty pageants, where contestants compete through several elimination stages before a winner is crowned, international competitions such as Miss Supranational feature delegates who have already won their respective national titles. Each contestant arrives at the global stage as the official representative of her country.

Representing Ghana among more than 60 delegates from across the world, Naa Asheley Nartey delivered an outstanding performance throughout the competition. From the preliminary events and sub-segment challenges to the grand finale held on July 31, 2026, she consistently demonstrated elegance, confidence, intelligence, and professionalism.

Throughout her journey, Nartey proudly showcased Ghana’s rich culture and heritage, using every opportunity to highlight the country’s creativity, fashion, traditions, and elegance before a global audience. Her poise and stage presence earned praise from pageant enthusiasts, supporters, and followers both in Ghana and internationally.

Although she did not capture the crown, her impressive performance throughout the competition has been celebrated as a significant achievement. Many observers commended her consistency, resilience, and dedication, noting that she represented Ghana with distinction from the opening stages of the pageant until the final night.

Beyond the competition itself, Naa Asheley Nartey served as a true ambassador for Ghana. Her participation reflected the growing influence of Ghanaian women in international beauty pageants and reinforced the country’s reputation for producing talented, confident, and accomplished representatives on the global stage.

Her inspiring journey is expected to encourage many young Ghanaian women who aspire to build careers in fashion, modelling, beauty, and leadership. By competing among the world’s best and leaving a lasting impression, Naa Asheley Nartey has demonstrated that determination, cultural pride, and hard work can create opportunities for global recognition.

As she returns home, her performance at Miss Supranational 2026 stands as another proud moment for Ghana, celebrating the country’s continued presence and excellence in international pageantry.

Veteran Ghanaian filmmaker Socrate Safo has made a heartfelt admission about one of the biggest mistakes of his illustrious career, revealing that he destroyed several of his own films many years ago because he failed to appreciate their historical value.

Speaking in an interview on Okay FM, the celebrated movie producer, who says he has produced more than 100 Ghanaian films, disclosed that he burnt numerous copies of his movies after they had piled up in his room, believing they were no longer useful.

According to Socrate Safo, the films had taken over his living space, and at the time, he never imagined they would become important archival materials for Ghana’s film industry.

“I burnt many of my own movies because they had filled my room. At that time, I didn’t think they would be needed in the future. Today, I deeply regret that decision,” he said.

The veteran filmmaker explained that the absence of proper preservation has made it difficult to trace some of his earlier productions, describing the decision as an irreversible mistake that deprived future generations of an important part of Ghana’s cinematic history.

Socrate Safo stressed that many filmmakers from his generation did not understand the importance of archiving their creative works, adding that the industry lacked proper systems for preserving films and other production materials.

His revelation comes amid ongoing discussions about preserving Ghana’s creative heritage and documenting the country’s film history for future generations. The filmmaker’s comments also serve as a reminder of the need for stronger archival institutions to safeguard the nation’s cultural assets.

With a career spanning decades and more than 100 movie productions to his credit, Socrate Safo remains one of the pioneers of Ghana’s film industry.

Socrate Safo’s experience has opened up conversations within the creative industry about the value of film preservation and the need for filmmakers to secure their works for future generations.

President John Dramani Mahama’s Nyabinghi drumming in Jamaica has been praised by Ras Caleb, Chief Executive Officer and Founding President of PANAFRICA-GHANA, who described the moment as a strong symbol of Pan-African unity and the President’s commitment to the ideals of liberation, reparations and African identity.

Speaking in an interview with KPDOnline, Ras Caleb described the moment as a powerful expression of Pan-African solidarity, saying it reflected Mahama’s appreciation of the Rastafarian movement’s long-standing role in championing African liberation and unity.

“I’m not speaking as a Rastafarian but as an African,” he said. “I see Rastas spearheading important things, and I was so happy when I saw the videos of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama with the Rastas playing Nyabinghi music in Jamaica.”

According to him, the footage brought back memories of former President Jerry John Rawlings’ visit to Jamaica in 1997, which he believes helped inspire Ghana’s Emancipation Day celebrations that began the following year.

“My mind went straight to 1997 when the late President Rawlings, the late Professor Kofi Awoonor, the former Deputy Minister for Tourism, Amofa, and Dr Tornado visited Jamaica. That was how the Emancipation celebration started, and Ghana began celebrating it in 1998,” Ras Caleb recalled.

He said watching President Mahama join the drumming session resonated deeply with him because of the historical connection between the Rastafarian movement and Pan-African ideals.

“I was excited when I saw the videos on social media. We, the Rastas, have always been champions of Pan-Africanism. Seeing the President with the Rastafarians playing Nyabinghi music meant a lot to me.”

Ras Caleb noted that Mahama’s engagement with the Rastafarian community suggested an understanding of the movement’s mission and its contribution to the struggle for African liberation.

He also drew comparisons with Rawlings’ visit nearly three decades ago, recalling that the former Ghanaian leader shared a stage with a Jamaican Rastafarian band, then-Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and the late former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.

“I still have photographs from that visit. Seeing President Mahama do something similar tells me he understands the mission of the Rastafarians.”

Ras Caleb said the Rastafarian movement continues to advocate for repatriation, reparations and the resettlement of people of African descent, adding that Mahama has consistently shown support for the reparations agenda.

“We are talking about repatriation, reparation and resettlement. President John Dramani Mahama has been a champion of reparations, so it was important for him to meet the Rastas, who have carried the message of liberation and emancipation for generations.”

President Mahama’s visit to Jamaica included bilateral engagements aimed at strengthening relations between Ghana and the Caribbean, while also participating in activities highlighting the shared history and cultural ties between Africa and the African diaspora.

Ghanaian dancehall artist Shatta Wale has urged fans to stop comparing him with fellow musician Stonebwoy. He mentioned that he had planned to attend Stonebwoy’s recent concert to promote unity among their supporters.

During a TikTok Live session, Shatta Wale revealed that his initial plan was to take the stage at the event and personally urge both fan bases to put an end to the long-standing rivalry that has surrounded him and Stonebwoy for years.

According to the “On God” hitmaker, he aimed to use the occasion to send a message of peace and urge music lovers to focus on supporting Ghanaian artists instead of creating unnecessary divisions.

“Yesterday, I intended to tell everyone to stop arguing about Stonebwoy and me and instead encourage them to support his show. I wanted to take the stage to express this. I felt it was important to use this opportunity to clarify things and help people feel more at ease.”

Shatta Wale emphasised that he does not see music as a competition, asserting that every artist can find success without being compared to others. He pointed out that the ongoing comparisons between Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy only generate unnecessary tension among their fans.

To support his point, he cited Jamaican dancehall stars Mavado and Vybz Kartel, explaining that despite their well-known rivalry, both artistes have continued to build successful international careers.

“Mavado and Vybz Kartel are performing all over the world, and they’re making money. But when you put our heads together and make it look like we are competing… I don’t know competition in this thing that I am doing. I just know that I am doing music for the beautiful people who love Shatta Wale,” he stated.

For years, Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy have been regarded as two of Ghana’s biggest dancehall stars, with their fan bases frequently engaging in debates over who has achieved more success and influence in the industry.

The latest remarks from Shatta Wale come amid renewed public discussions about the relationship between the two musicians, as fans and sections of the media continue to compare their careers and accomplishments.

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