Ghanaian actress and media personality Nana Ama McBrown has urged young people to develop practical skills alongside their formal education, saying learning a trade can provide an alternative path to financial independence.

Speaking in a recent interview on Joy FM, McBrown said young people should not depend solely on academic qualifications to secure their future.

She encouraged those without formal education to learn a trade while also advising graduates and other educated individuals to acquire practical skills that could generate income.

“If you didn’t get a formal education, learn a trade. Even if you did have an education, still learn a trade or a handy job.”

McBrown stressed that a person’s background or educational level should not determine their chances of succeeding in life.

She encouraged young people to recognise their abilities, develop confidence and avoid allowing difficult circumstances to define their future.

“Everybody was born into this world with something, whether your parents are alive or they’re not alive, whether you have education or you don’t have, I want you to know that you’re somebody.”

The actress also highlighted the importance of having a positive mindset, explaining that self-belief can influence how individuals approach their goals and challenges.

“If you think you’re somebody, you will become somebody. If you think you are wayward or you’re just useless for anything, then you will be.”

She further pointed to social media as an avenue that has created new opportunities for people to build careers, businesses and public profiles without following the traditional educational route.

“Right now social media has made people wealthy and popular. You don’t have to feel that because you didn’t go to school you won’t make it in life.”

McBrown also advised young adults to identify what they are passionate about and dedicate time to developing their abilities in that area.

According to her, people above the age of 20 should have a clearer understanding of what they want to pursue and should invest in becoming skilled in their chosen field.

“By this age above 20 you know what you want. You need to fall in love with something. The moment you fall in love with something, you learn about that something and you make sure you equip yourself in that something.”

She cautioned against trying to pursue too many interests at once, noting that constantly moving from one thing to another can make it difficult to achieve meaningful results.

“Being everywhere doesn’t give you results. Focus on what you think you love and follow.”

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Creative Arts Agency (CAA) has invited creative arts practitioner Kojo Preko Dankwah to a high-level stakeholder engagement with the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.

The meeting is expected to bring together key players and practitioners in Ghana’s creative arts industry for discussions on the sector’s development, emerging challenges and the government’s strategic priorities.

According to the invitation issued by the CAA, the engagement is intended to provide an avenue for direct discussions between the Minister and industry stakeholders on developments within the creative arts sector and concerns requiring attention.

The agency said the meeting will also explore possible areas of collaboration aimed at accelerating the growth of Ghana’s creative economy.

The engagement is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Exhibition Hall of the National Theatre in Accra.

The CAA described the meeting as significant to the implementation of policies and the broader development of Ghana’s creative arts sector.

In the invitation addressed to Mr Dankwah, the agency said his presence and contribution would be highly appreciated as stakeholders come together to deliberate on issues affecting the industry.

The engagement is expected to allow practitioners to share their views and concerns while contributing to discussions on measures that could support the continued expansion of the creative arts sector.

The invitation was signed by Gideon Cyril Aryeequaye, Acting Executive Secretary of the Creative Arts Agency.

For enquiries or confirmation of attendance, the agency provided info@caa.gov.gh and +233 202 078 782 as its contact details.

The letter, dated August 17, 2026, carries the reference number CAA/808/2026 and was issued from the agency’s office at Old Brigade Street, behind the 37 Military Hospital, Kawukudi, Accra.

Kojo Preko Dankwa

Ghanaian highlife musician Samuel Ofori Amponsah has opened up about the difficult period in his life that led him to temporarily leave highlife music and venture into gospel.

The “Otoolege” hitmaker disclosed that the decision, which surprised and disappointed some of his fans, was influenced by personal challenges and the immense pressure associated with fame.

Speaking to Nana Romeo on Atuu on Saturday, Ofori Amponsah explained that his experiences at the time forced him to seek a deeper relationship with God.

According to the veteran musician, the pressures musicians face can become overwhelming if they are not handled carefully.

“Musicians go through a lot, and if you don’t take care, you wouldn’t know what to do with your life because of the pressure of fame,” he said.

Ofori Amponsah said his circumstances became so challenging that strengthening his relationship with God became necessary for him.

He revealed that his decision to move into gospel music was not simply a career choice but one connected to what he was personally experiencing at the time.

“At that time, the things that were happening to me, I had to get closer to God more. If I didn’t make that decision then, I wouldn’t have been alive by now,” he disclosed.

The musician, however, admitted that there are aspects of what he went through that he is still not ready to discuss publicly.

He stressed that not every experience can easily be explained, suggesting that his decision to leave highlife was driven by circumstances that were deeply personal.

Reflecting on his career, the musician acknowledged that some of his decisions have disappointed people, particularly his choice to temporarily switch from highlife to gospel.

He appealed to fans who felt let down by the move to forgive him, insisting that there were reasons behind the decision that he could not reveal at the time

.“They should forgive me, but it’s not everything that I could explain,” he said.

Ofori Amponsah also maintained that his spiritual journey remains important to him.

Although he does not necessarily attend church regularly, he said he continues to pray and considers his personal relationship with God more significant than simply being present in church.

“I do pray a lot. Christianity is a relationship with God but not necessarily me going to church. With me, the connection with God is still there,” he explained.

He further stated that maintaining a close relationship with God is, in his view, one of the most important things people can pursue.

“The way things are among us humans, being close to God is far better, and it’s the most important thing that I think we should do,” he added.

The veteran musician indicated that fans may eventually get a clearer picture of what happened during the controversial period of his career.

He disclosed plans to document his experiences in a book, where he intends to explain the circumstances surrounding some of the major decisions he made.

Ofori Amponsah believes such a publication will help people understand that his decision to leave highlife for gospel was not without purpose.

“One day, I will write everything in a book so that people will understand. Every decision I took back then had a meaning, so you all should forgive me,” he said.

Ghanaian musician Belinda Nana Ekua Amoah, popularly known as Mzbel, has shared her perspective on age differences in relationships, revealing that she enjoys the company of a 19-year-old man and would consider dating him if her current relationship ends.

The veteran musician made the revelation during an interview with media personality ZionFelix, where she explained that age is not a major consideration for her when it comes to relationships.

According to Mzbel, the character of a person matters more than the number of years separating two partners.

“The age difference, I don’t see anything wrong with it. It’s about the person’s character. We only came to believe in this world that it was wrong to be in a relationship with someone whose age difference is huge, but we have never asked why. There is nothing wrong with it,” she said.

Mzbel stressed that she has not entered into a relationship with the 19-year-old despite enjoying his company because she is already involved with someone else.

She said she is not comfortable being involved with two people simultaneously and would only explore the possibility of dating the young man if her current relationship comes to an end.

“And this kid, it’s not like I have agreed to date him. It’s just that I enjoy his company. For me, it’s not about age. For me, if I like you, why not? I will date you. He is cute, but that is just it. Maybe because there is someone already. I don’t know how to do two people at a time. So, if the person breaks up with me, I will consider dating him,” she explained.

The “16 Years” hitmaker also reflected on her own relationship history, revealing that her first serious relationship was with a man who was 28 years older than her.

Mzbel said the man played an important role in the early stages of her music career after discovering her talent and encouraging her to pursue music.

“My first ever serious relationship; the man was 28 years older than me. He discovered my talent, and I started doing music,” she noted.

However, she said the relationship later took a difficult turn after she became famous.

According to Mzbel, her former partner became increasingly jealous whenever other people showed interest in her, including when she received invitations or messages from other individuals.

She alleged that his behaviour eventually became abusive, saying he physically assaulted her and sometimes confiscated her phone.

“The relationship started well, but it didn’t end well. When I became famous, it started to bother him. If someone invited me out, he was threatened; if someone sent me a message, he was threatened. He was just abusing me. He beat me; he would seize my phone, so when I got some money, I ran away from him,” she recounted.

Ghanaian musician Barosky has opened up about his difficult circumstances in the United Kingdom, revealing that he has been left without permanent accommodation and is now seeking public support to return to Ghana.

The musician, whose real name is Isaac Obeng Mensah, made the revelation during an interview with media personality Nana Romeo after a video showing him on the streets of Manchester surfaced.

Barosky’s situation appears to have left him struggling with some of the most necessities, including food, shelter and access to bathing facilities.

He disclosed that he currently sleeps on the streets and does not have regular access to food. According to him, he sometimes relies on strangers who offer him food.

“I sleep on the street for now. I haven’t even bathed for some time now. People help me to feed,” he said.

Speaking about his options, Barosky said his priority is not necessarily to secure accommodation in the UK but to find a way back to Ghana.

He explained that although he needs a room, he would rather return home because he has no close family members in the United Kingdom.

“I need a room, but if I had to choose between having a room and returning to Ghana, I would choose to come home. I want to return to Ghana. I don’t have any family here in the UK, just a few friends,” he stated.

Barosky also revealed that he has not been in contact with his family in Ghana for some time.

He said he has no relatives in the UK and relies mainly on a small circle of friends.

With his circumstances becoming increasingly difficult, the musician has appealed to individuals who may be willing to assist him financially or otherwise so that he can return to Ghana.

Barosky’s current situation contrasts sharply with his earlier years in Ghana’s music industry, where he earned recognition through collaborations with several established artistes.

Born Isaac Obeng Mensah, he hails from Ashanti Bekwai and developed an interest in music during his days at Golden Six College, a technical school in Laterbiokorshie.

While at the school, he served as the Assistant Entertainment Prefect, a position that gave him an opportunity to nurture his interest in music and entertainment.

He later turned his attention to music production and trained as a sound engineer under renowned Ghanaian producer Appietus between 2002 and 2004.

After completing his training, Barosky worked as an assistant engineer with Appietus before leaving the role to concentrate on his own music career.

His name became more familiar to Ghanaian music lovers through his involvement in songs by artistes such as Kofi Nti and Ofori Amponsah.

Among the notable projects associated with him were Kofi Nti’s “Rakia” and Ofori Amponsah’s “Otoolege.”

Barosky eventually launched his own solo career and released a 10-track album titled Okyerewaa Ba in 2007.

The album received considerable radio airplay and gave him further exposure as a solo musician.

Over the years, he also featured on songs by several Ghanaian artistes, including Ofori Amponsah, Kofi Nti, K.K. Fosu and Sidney.

His career, however, later encountered difficulties following a disagreement with Ofori Amponsah over alleged monies owed to him. There were also concerns surrounding his frequent appearances on recordings by other artistes.

Now facing homelessness in Manchester, Barosky is appealing for assistance to make the journey back to Ghana, where he hopes to begin rebuilding his life.

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