The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MoTCCA) has officially clarified that it did not approve, endorse, sanction, or authorise the staging of the recently held Karnival Kingdom Festival in Accra.

In a statement dated May 7, 2026, and signed by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Ministry stated that it did not receive any correspondence, proposal, request for approval, or official communication regarding the organisation of the festival.

According to the Ministry, it is therefore unaware of the processes through which the event was purportedly approved to take place in Ghana.

The clarification follows growing public concerns and widespread discussions over activities associated with the festival, particularly after materials considered culturally inappropriate circulated widely on social media.

The Ministry acknowledged the concerns raised by various stakeholders and sections of the public regarding the nature and conduct of the event.

As the supervisory public institution responsible for the tourism, culture, and creative arts sector, the Ministry stressed the importance of complying with established regulatory procedures and institutional engagements when organising public events, including festivals.

It further reminded organisers of tourism, cultural, entertainment, and recreational events to formally engage the appropriate state institutions and obtain all necessary regulatory approvals before staging such activities.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to preserving, promoting, and developing tourism and cultural activities that respect Ghana’s laws, uphold the country’s cultural identity and public decency, and protect Ghana’s reputation as a safe and culturally respectful destination

Fashion entrepreneur Osebo the Zaraman has publicly withdrawn his earlier comments regarding the leadership succession of the Kristo Asafo Mission, admitting that he mistakenly shared inaccurate information after misunderstanding the contents of the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s will.

Speaking in an interview with 1957 News on July 7, 2026, Osebo acknowledged that his latest remarks may attract criticism from the public, but stressed that correcting the record was more important than protecting his image.

“I know this second interview I’m doing will make Ghanaians insult me, but I’m not bothered. The most important thing is the truth I’m about to reveal. I was misled,” he said.

Osebo explained that after granting his first interview, a lawyer advised him to refrain from making any further public comments because there were important legal details he had not yet considered.

He revealed that a lawyer representing Sarah Adwoa Safo later sent him Paragraph 27 of the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s will. According to him, reading that section completely changed his understanding of how the church’s succession process was intended to work.

He stated that Paragraph 27 of the will makes it clear that any of Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s three children can become the leader of the church, following an amendment to the church’s constitution that ultimately led to the legal battle over the succession.

Osebo admitted that he had wrongly declared Kwadwo Safo Akofena as the rightful leader before fully understanding the contents of the will.

“I got it wrong, and that’s why I said it was Akofena. If I mistakenly said Akofena was chosen as the leader, the lawyer later drew my attention to the fact that it is not so. Unfortunately, the videos had already been uploaded,” he explained.

The fashion entrepreneur said he has no difficulty admitting his mistake publicly, adding that everyone is capable of making errors.

“I’m not ashamed to come out and correct myself publicly, and I don’t care who insults me. Everyone makes mistakes in life. My mistake was giving the public incorrect information because I was misled,” he said.

Osebo further recalled that from the beginning, he had maintained that he would support whoever was legally chosen to lead the church. He explained that his earlier endorsement of Kwadwo Safo Akofena was based solely on the information he believed to be accurate at the time.

He added that he initially supported Akofena because he thought he had been named the successor in the will. However, after reviewing Paragraph 27, he realized that Akofena was not specifically named as the church’s leader. Osebo said he has accepted his mistake and believes it is important to publicly correct the misinformation he previously shared.

Veteran Ghanaian hiplife musician Reggie Rockstone has disclosed that he lost his personal vehicle during the devastating floods that swept through Accra on June 29, 2026, forcing him to temporarily depend on ride-hailing services for his daily transportation.

Speaking in a video shared on Instagram, the self-acclaimed “Godfather of Hiplife” revealed that his Toyota Corolla S was destroyed by the floods and could no longer be used.

“Right now, I have to be taking Ubers; my personal car, a Corolla S, is dead. The floods killed it,” he said.

Rockstone explained that although his family still owns another vehicle, he prefers not to share rides with his wife because of convenience and personal comfort.

“We only have two cars. I could be riding with my wife, but for my own peace of mind, I’d rather not. So I will have to be investing in a lot of Ubers,” he stated.

The musician also disclosed that he intends to contact Shaxi, the ride-hailing company owned by fellow musician Shatta Wale, hoping the company will support him during this period. Rockstone previously served as a brand ambassador for the platform.

“I will reach out to Shaxi because I have advertised for them before, so maybe they will show me some love,” he added.

Rather than dwelling on the loss, Rockstone said he plans to transform the experience into a creative opportunity by producing content around his daily interactions with Uber drivers and exploring everyday life in Accra through those journeys.

Accra Floods Leave Widespread Destruction

The floods followed torrential rains that hit Accra and several other parts of Ghana on Monday, June 29, 2026. Approximately 140 millimetres of rainfall was recorded during the storm, making it one of the most intense single-day rainfall events the capital has experienced in recent years.

The disaster affected thousands of residents across the country, with 89,736 people displaced nationwide. The Greater Accra Region recorded the highest number of affected persons, accounting for 54,712 of the total.

Emergency response teams, including the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the Police Marine Unit, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Ghana Armed Forces, intensified rescue operations across the city.

At Tse Addo Last Stop alone, rescuers evacuated 105 trapped residents, comprising 40 women, 20 men and 45 children.

The Greater Accra Regional Fire Command also rescued more than 400 people during the emergency. In addition, a four-storey building at Tabora No. 6 collapsed as a result of the heavy rains, although all occupants had safely evacuated before the structure came down.

Rockstone’s loss has become one of the many personal stories emerging from the catastrophic floods, which caused widespread destruction to homes, businesses and vehicles across the capital.