Entertainment
FOCAP Maintains Zero Rating for NDC Government Over Creative Arts Sector Performance
The President of the Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP), Kojo Preko Dankwa, has maintained the organisation’s zero rating of the government’s performance in the creative arts sector, insisting that little has changed since its first-year assessment.
According to Kojo Preko Dankwa, FOCAP initially scored the government zero during its first-year review after assessing the promises and commitments made to the creative arts industry.
Speaking on JoyPrime, he said the organisation had conducted a fresh assessment six months after its initial review and had reached the same conclusion.
“We scored the NDC government zero. And six months down the lane, it is still zero,” he said.
He explained that FOCAP’s assessment was not based on routine administrative activities such as meetings, official travels, conferences, visits or the signing of documents.
Rather, the organisation was interested in measuring the government against the specific commitments it made to Ghanaians before assuming office.
“We’re not looking at the normal procedural ministry work when you get there to do. I mean, we know there are meetings, we know there are travels to do conferences, we know you need to do one or two visits to certain places, sign papers and all that,” he explained.
“We’re looking at why you are in government, why we voted for you. We voted for you based on some things you told us that we’re convinced of,” he added.
Kojo Preko Dankwa questioned whether the government’s efforts to promote Ghana’s creative industry had produced visible results.
He said the sector needed interventions that would have a direct and noticeable impact on creative professionals and the wider industry.
He cited the promotion of Ghana and the use of content creators as areas where FOCAP expected to see measurable outcomes.
“There is a deliberate attempt to see you promote Ghana. That is the impact we’re looking for. Have we seen it? Have we seen you do anything beyond that? No, it is zero,” he said.
He also questioned the pace at which some relatively straightforward policy interventions were being implemented.
According to him, issues such as reducing rates charged by event centres should not take years to address.
“Ordinary things like cutting rates for event centres. What would take you ten years? One year, nine months to do that? No, it is not,” he argued.
The FOCAP President also addressed the government’s establishment of a board for the Creative Arts Agency, which was cited as one of the developments under the administration.
He acknowledged that the board had been constituted but argued that the move should not be considered a major achievement because it was already required by law.
“For the first time, we have a board for the Creative Arts Agency,” the interviewer noted.
Kojo Preko Dankwa responded that the establishment of the board was simply the implementation of an existing legal requirement.
He explained that the relevant legislation already provided for the existence of a board and that the failure to constitute one under the previous administration was a defect that needed to be corrected.
“It was a defect that we saw. And they fixed it. Because in the Act, it’s supposed to be done,” he said.
However, he maintained that implementing what was already required by law did not, in FOCAP’s view, amount to a significant new intervention that should substantially change the organisation’s assessment.
“The Act, which was done, was not done even when they were in power. It is stating that you need to have a board. So, coming into, I mean, put it into action, you’ve not done anything,” he stated.
When challenged that some work had been done through the establishment of the board, Kojo Preko Dankwa remained firm.
“No, there’s no work done there,” he insisted.
FOCAP’s position therefore remains that the government has yet to demonstrate sufficient progress on the substantive promises and interventions that motivated creative industry stakeholders to support its election, resulting in the organisation maintaining its zero score for the government’s performance in the sector.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dzifa Abla Gomashie, has disclosed that Ghana generated an estimated US$4.34 billion in tourism receipts from 1.3 million international tourist arrivals in 2025.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, August 10, 2026, Ms Gomashie outlined developments and achievements recorded in the tourism, culture and creative arts sectors since assuming office.
According to the Minister, Ghana recorded 1,303,962 international tourist arrivals in 2025, an increase from the 1,288,804 arrivals recorded in 2024.
She said the growth in international arrivals contributed significantly to the country’s tourism earnings, with the sector generating an estimated US$4.34 billion during the year.
Domestic tourism records growth
She also highlighted growth in domestic tourism, revealing that visits to tourist attractions increased from 1.68 million in 2024 to 1.79 million in 2025, representing a 7% increase.
The Minister said Ghana’s 10 most visited tourist attractions collectively recorded 1,377,588 visits in 2025, accounting for approximately 27% of all domestic tourism site visits nationwide.
The leading attractions were:
- Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
- Kakum National Park
- Bunso Arboretum Eco Park
- Cape Coast Castle
- Manhyia Palace
- Kumasi Zoo
- Accra Zoo
- Elmina Castle
- Shai Hills Resource Reserve
- Agri-Botanical Garden
Gomashie noted that only three of the 10 leading attractions are directly under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, with the others managed by different institutions.
She said the figures demonstrate the continued importance of Ghana’s tourism attractions to both domestic and international tourism and underscore the need for sustained investment in their development and management.
Creative arts fund
The Minister also provided an update on government efforts to support Ghana’s creative industries through a proposed creative arts fund.
She said the fund is expected to stimulate production, improve the quality of creative content, create jobs and strengthen Ghana’s intellectual property position in both domestic and international markets.
“The fund is anticipated to catalyse production activity, improve content quality, create jobs, strengthen Ghana’s intellectual property for both domestic and international markets,” she said.
Ms Gomashie disclosed that work was ongoing to finalise the modalities for operationalising the fund, with the Ministry of the Attorney-General involved in the process.
National Theatre gets strategic plan
The Minister further disclosed that the government has developed a 2026–2030 strategic plan for the National Theatre to improve the facility’s operations and maximise its contribution to the tourism, culture and creative arts sectors.
She said the strategic plan was launched in March 2026 and is intended to provide a clear direction for the management and development of the National Theatre.
“We have successfully crafted a strategic plan 2026 to 2030 to guide the running of the National Theatre of Ghana and ensure its optimal contribution to the tourism, culture, and creative arts industry,” Ms Gomashie said.
She added that the Ministry had also negotiated support from a German theatre group, resulting in the donation of a 40-foot container filled with lighting and sound equipment for the National Theatre.
The Minister said the interventions form part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana’s tourism, culture and creative arts sectors and position them as important contributors to economic growth, employment and national development.
Ghanaian actress Beverly Afaglo is being laid to rest today, Saturday, August 8, 2026, as family, friends, colleagues, and fans gather in Accra to pay their final respects and celebrate her life.
The main funeral service is being held at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra, with proceedings scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m.
Following the funeral service, Beverly Afaglo will be buried in a private ceremony reserved for close family members.
Today’s funeral rites form part of a series of ceremonies organised by the family to honour the late actress and allow loved ones in Ghana and abroad to mourn her passing and celebrate her life.
The first phase of the funeral took place on Saturday, August 1, 2026, in Laurel, Maryland, in the United States. The ceremony brought together relatives, friends, and members of the Ghanaian diaspora community, who gathered to remember Beverly and reflect on her life and career.
The final funeral activities in Ghana will conclude on Sunday, August 9, 2026, with a thanksgiving service at Action Chapel International. The service is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.
Beverly Afaglo passed away on May 24, 2026, at the age of 42 after a battle with cancer. Her death occurred just four days before her 43rd birthday.
Her passing was met with an outpouring of grief from Ghana’s entertainment community and audiences who had followed her career over the years.
Beverly was a familiar face in Ghana’s film and television industry, where she built a notable career through her appearances in movies and television productions. Her performances earned her recognition among Ghanaian audiences and established her as one of the actresses associated with the country’s vibrant entertainment industry.
Beyond her work on screen, her presence in Ghanaian popular culture made her a recognisable figure to many fans. Her death therefore marked a significant loss to the acting fraternity, with colleagues, friends and admirers remembering her for the contribution she made to Ghanaian entertainment.
As mourners gather at the State House today, the focus remains on celebrating Beverly Afaglo’s life, remembering her work and offering support to her family as they bid farewell to a woman who left a lasting mark on Ghana’s film and television landscape.
The thanksgiving service on Sunday will provide one final opportunity for family, friends, colleagues and members of the public to come together in remembrance before the funeral activities officially come to an end.
Award-winning Ghanaian musician KiDi has opened up about one of the most challenging periods of his life, revealing that he initially struggled with fear and uncertainty after learning he was going to become a father while still pursuing his university education.
Speaking on the Konnected Minds Podcast, the singer said the news came at a time when he was still trying to build his own future, making the responsibility of parenthood feel overwhelming.
“I was scared. I was in uni. I was scared. I was shaken,” KiDi admitted.
The “Touch It” hitmaker explained that the pregnancy affected his academic journey, as he had to prepare for his resit examinations while dealing with the emotional weight of becoming a father.
According to him, his biggest concern was how he would provide and care for a child when he was still trying to establish himself.
“So how to raise a child? I was still even raising myself. I was still trying to figure out my place in the world. So to come and add another human to that equation was such a scary concept.”
Despite those fears, KiDi said the unwavering support of his family, especially his mother, gave him the strength to push through the difficult period.
He recalled that knowing his family stood behind him kept him motivated to continue his education despite the challenges.
“One thing that kept me going was I always find a way. No matter how difficult it was. I knew I had my family. I knew I had those people behind me. My mom was always going to show up for me.”
The musician said that support ultimately enabled him to complete his studies and successfully sit for his resit examinations.
Reflecting on that period, he added humorously that he even relied on an energy boost to get through the exams.
“It helped me to finish my education. I even took some vim to go and write my resits.”
KiDi also disclosed that although he learned about the pregnancy early, he was unable to be actively involved throughout the pregnancy because he and the child’s mother were living in different countries.
As a result, he missed the antenatal appointments and only reunited with them after the baby was born.
“I wasn’t able to be there until he was actually born because we were in different countries,” he explained.
Ghanaian musicians Stonebwoy and Medikal have sparked reactions across social media after sharing a friendly exchange during an unexpected meeting in the United Kingdom.
A video making the rounds online captured the moment the two award-winning artistes bumped into each other on the streets of London ahead of separate media engagements. In the clip, Stonebwoy and Medikal greeted each other with a firm handshake, exchanged a few words, and shared a brief laugh before continuing on their separate ways with members of their respective teams.
The cordial encounter has generated widespread discussion among fans, largely because Medikal is known to have a close friendship with Shatta Wale, who has maintained a long-standing rivalry with Stonebwoy over the years.
The video has since generated conversation on social media, particularly because Medikal is widely known to be a close friend of Shatta Wale, who has had a long-standing rivalry with Stonebwoy. Fans have continued to share varying reactions to the cordial exchange between the two musicians.
Entertainment
Stonebwoy Assures Top-Notch Security Ahead of BHIM Festival London 2026, Promises World-Class Experience
Ghanaian dancehall star Stonebwoy has assured fans that security at the upcoming BHIM Festival London will be of the highest standard, stressing that the event will mirror the safety, organisation, and premium experience that have become synonymous with his concerts in Ghana.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated festival scheduled for August 15, the award-winning musician said the safety of patrons remains a top priority, especially because his events regularly attract high-profile personalities, including government officials, traditional leaders, and dignitaries.
According to Stonebwoy, his concerts in Ghana have consistently hosted crowds of up to 50,000 people in a peaceful and well-organised environment, and he intends to replicate the same standards for the London edition.
“You’ve been to my festivals in Ghana, 50,000 people trooping and everything is clean, nice. They chill, they have fun. I’ve got people from the presidency at my show every time. MPs, high-caliber, high-class kings and queens, and security is top-notch,” he said.
The “Into the Future” hitmaker explained that the security arrangements for the London festival are being carefully planned to ensure attendees enjoy the event in a safe, comfortable, and enabling atmosphere.
He noted that the goal is to create an environment where music lovers can relax while experiencing an unforgettable festival.
“We’re going to implement the same qualities over here to make sure the people are safe and have a beautiful and enabling environment to enjoy themselves,” he added.
Beyond security, Stonebwoy promised fans a spectacular musical production, saying every aspect of the festival is being designed to meet the highest international standards.
He emphasised that he takes pride in delivering performances that reflect the dedication, hard work, and passion he invests in his craft.
According to him, while some artists simply perform their songs on stage, he strives to present music at the highest level of quality and representation.
“Some artists get on stage and deliver what they’ve got to deliver, but when you see the ones that put in the blood, sweat, tears and heart to beautify the craft, I choose to be one of those. The people deserve such quality acts, and that’s what I’m going to put up come the 15th of August.”
Stonebwoy also revealed that the Stonebwoy BHIM Festival London lineup will feature an unprecedented gathering of Ghanaian music legends alongside international reggae and dancehall acts.
He announced that celebrated Ghanaian musicians Kwabena Kwabena, Samini, and Ofori Amponsah will perform at the festival, describing the collaboration as a rare moment in Ghanaian music history.
In addition to the Ghanaian stars, Stonebwoy confirmed that Jamaican artistes Stylo G and Busy Signal will also perform.
He further disclosed that two additional Jamaican acts will be unveiled as surprise guests before the event.
The musician said the festival will celebrate the richness of Black music, bringing together different musical influences from Ghana and Jamaica in one unforgettable experience.
BHIM Festival London Set for August 15
The Stonebwoy BHIM Festival London is scheduled to take place on August 15 and is expected to attract fans from across the United Kingdom and beyond.
With assurances of world-class security, premium stage production, and a lineup featuring some of Ghana’s biggest music icons alongside internationally acclaimed Jamaican performers, the festival is shaping up to be one of the biggest African music events in London this year
No Government Can Stop Galamsey Completely – Extractive Industry Expert
Ghana earns $4.34bn from 1.3m tourist arrivals in 2025 – Tourism Minister
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