President of the Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP), Kojo Preko Dankwa has called for President John Dramani Mahama to be officially made an ambassador for Ghana’s creative arts sector, citing his strong interest in the industry and his efforts to promote and support creatives.

According to Preko Dankwa, President Mahama’s frequent references to creative works, comedians, skits, films and other forms of entertainment at public events demonstrate his deep understanding of and affection for the creative sector.

Speaking to KPDonline.com, He said the President often uses public platforms to demonstrate his knowledge of developments within the creative industry, including content he encounters on social media and films he watches.

Preko Dankwa believes these actions are evidence that Mahama has a genuine interest in the sector and could therefore play a larger role in promoting Ghanaian creativity both locally and internationally.

He further pointed to the President’s manifesto commitments and his reported support for veteran actors, musicians and other industry personalities as indications of his desire to improve the welfare of people in the creative space.

A major issue highlighted by Preko Dankwa was the establishment and financing of the Creative Arts Fund.

He argued that although previous governments had made promises concerning the fund, Mahama’s administration had gone further by providing what he described as GH¢40 million in seed funding, with an indication that additional funding could be provided if the initial allocation was properly utilized.

Preko Dankwa said this, in his view, distinguishes Mahama’s approach from previous administrations that promised support for the sector but failed to put money into the fund.

He therefore appealed to the creative industry to consider making Mahama an official ambassador for creative arts.

“If we make him the creative arts ambassador,” he argued, the President could use his position and international engagements to create more opportunities for Ghanaian creatives.

Preko Dankwa also expressed concern that when President Mahama travelled to Jamaica, there was no creative industry representative among the delegation.

He suggested that future presidential delegations could include musicians, writers, sculptors, filmmakers and other creatives who could help promote Ghana’s cultural identity and strengthen the country’s creative diplomacy.

He cited names such as Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale, as well as other creatives, arguing that Ghana has a wide range of talents who could help project the country internationally.

Preko Dankwa further praised what he described as increased recognition of creatives under the current administration, including the appointment of creative professionals to positions within Ghana’s cultural and diplomatic space.

He referenced individuals such as Akofa Edjeani, Dr Abdela and Selom Kwakye, who, according to him, have been given opportunities to represent Ghana abroad.

He also cited the appointment of a creative arts ambassador to Spain as another indication of the administration’s recognition of the sector’s potential in promoting the Ghanaian brand.

Preko Dankwa compared his proposal to former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s role in promoting the Beyond the Return initiative, saying the former president personally championed the programmer on international platforms and helped attract members of the diaspora to Ghana.

He believes Mahama could similarly use the presidency to champion the creative sector and ensure that its challenges receive sustained attention.

Among the areas he wants the President to priorities are insurance, housing, welfare and the implementation of policies contained in the government’s manifesto for creatives.

Preko Dankwa ultimately called for Mahama to take on the role of creative arts ambassador in order to help establish stronger structures and systems that could continue functioning even after his administration leaves office.

President of the Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP), Kojo Preko Dankwa, has praised President John Dramani Mahama for what he described as an unprecedented financial commitment to Ghana’s creative arts sector.

Preko Dankwa said Mahama had distinguished himself from previous administrations by providing GH¢40 million in seed funding for the Creative Arts Fund, which he believes could provide a major boost to the industry if properly managed.

Speaking to KPDonline.com, Preko Dankwa argued that the Creative Arts Fund had existed as a policy objective for years, but successive governments had failed to provide meaningful financial resources to make it effective.

He noted that the legal framework for the fund was provided through legislation, including the Film Act, 935, and the Creative Arts Agency Act, 1048, but said the industry had continued to wait for actual funding.

According to him, previous governments repeatedly promised to support the fund, but no substantial amount was released.

He therefore described Mahama’s decision to inject GH¢40 million as a significant departure from what had happened in the past.

Preko Dankwa also said the President had indicated that the fund could receive additional money if the initial allocation was properly utilised.

For him, the financial commitment is one of several reasons he believes Mahama should become an official ambassador for the creative arts sector.

He said the President’s interest in creative content is evident whenever he speaks at public programmes, where he often references comedians, skits, films and other creative works.

Preko Dankwa argued that Mahama’s personal familiarity with developments in the creative industry could help him effectively champion the sector and attract greater attention to its needs.

He also praised the government for creating opportunities for creatives to occupy positions and represent Ghana internationally.

He pointed to appointments involving personalities such as Akofa Edjeani, Dr Abdela and Selom Kwakye, saying their involvement in diplomatic and cultural engagements could help promote Ghana’s creative identity abroad.

Preko Dankwa further called for more creatives to be included in presidential delegations, particularly during international trips.

He mentioned musicians, writers, sculptors and other creative professionals as potential members of such delegations, arguing that their presence could help Ghana market its culture and creative products internationally.

He expressed disappointment that no creative industry representative was included in President Mahama’s delegation during his visit to Jamaica.

He believes the creative sector could gain greater international exposure if prominent Ghanaian creatives were regularly included in presidential and diplomatic engagements.

Preko Dankwa also linked the proposed ambassadorial role to the welfare of people working in the industry.

He said a stronger presidential focus could help address concerns relating to insurance, housing, welfare and other social protections for creatives.

He argued that the ultimate objective should not only be to provide financial support but also to establish sustainable structures and systems capable of serving the creative sector beyond the tenure of any particular government.

Preko Dankwa therefore urged the creative industry to support the idea of making President Mahama an ambassador for the sector, saying his influence could help attract the attention, resources and international exposure needed to strengthen Ghana’s creative economy.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Abieku Santana, has challenged Ghanaians to change their perception of opportunities in the country, insisting that Ghana has more opportunities than the United States.

According to him, the challenge is not necessarily the absence of opportunities but the inability of many Ghanaians to identify, pursue and maximise the opportunities available to them.

Speaking in a video shared on X on September 6, 2026, Santana said he would choose to remain in Ghana even if he were offered a highly lucrative salary to relocate to the United States or the United Kingdom.

“If you gave me a $100,000 monthly salary to live in America or to live in the UK, I’ll choose Ghana. Ask me why.”

He argued that Ghana presents significant opportunities across various sectors, but many citizens fail to take advantage of them.

“There are more opportunities in Ghana than in America. We see the opportunity, but we are not able to seize the opportunity,” he said.

Santana further observed that foreigners and expatriates often recognise and exploit opportunities that many Ghanaians overlook.

He explained that while Ghanaians may focus on the challenges confronting particular sectors, foreigners often examine the same challenges and identify business opportunities within them.
“Then foreigners or expatriates come; they see it, and they seize it. We see the opportunity, but we lament. We always complain.”

The tourism executive stressed that challenges should not always be viewed negatively, arguing that problems can create opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation.

“Anything that people are complaining about is an opportunity. Opportunity is work. Opportunity is problems. But we don’t like problems,” he added.

Santana has also been advocating for African-led tourism storytelling, encouraging Africans and Ghanaians to take greater ownership of how the continent’s culture, tourism attractions and opportunities are presented to the world.

Veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie has cautioned men against becoming financially dependent on their wives, arguing that such dependence could have serious consequences for them.

The respected actor made the remarks while speaking on content creator Bae U Barbie’s podcast, Curiosity Made Me Ask.

Edochie also shared his views on marriage proposals, particularly the practice of men kneeling before women while presenting engagement rings.

According to the actor, kneeling to propose is not merely a romantic gesture. Still, it could symbolically suggest that a man is surrendering his position as head of the family even before the marriage begins.

“Don’t pray for your wife to feed you. If you get into such a situation, you’d like to take poison and die. If you step down on your knee and you offer a woman a ring, you are conceding headship of the family to that woman,” Edochie said.

He further questioned why marriages in Western countries often end in divorce, linking the issue to what he described as changing marital dynamics.

“I will not take it back. Have you ever asked yourself why marriages don’t last in Western countries? Oh yeah, but that’s the reason. So, if your wife decides to divorce you, she’s entitled to maybe half or 75 per cent of what you have,” he added.

Source:NajiaNews

Nigerian music superstar Burna Boy, born Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, has become one of Africa’s most successful and influential contemporary artistes, taking his distinctive sound from the streets of Nigeria to some of the world’s biggest stages.

Born on July 2, 1991, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, Burna Boy is a singer, songwriter and performer known for blending Afrobeats, Afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, hip-hop, and pop into a style he describes as Afro-fusion.

Early Life and Musical Background

Burna Boy grew up in a family with a strong connection to music. His grandfather, Benson Idonije, was once associated with and managed the legendary Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, an influence that would later become evident in Burna Boy’s musical identity.

He reportedly began experimenting with music and producing beats at a young age. He attended school in Nigeria before spending time in London for further studies. However, music eventually became his primary focus, leading him back to Nigeria to pursue a professional career.

The Beginning of Burna Boy’s Career

Burna Boy began attracting major attention in 2012 with the release of “Like to Party,” a song that introduced his sound to a wider Nigerian audience.

The single became a breakthrough moment and helped pave the way for his debut studio album, L.I.F.E, released in 2013. The album established him as one of the promising new voices in Nigeria’s rapidly growing music industry.

Over the years, Burna Boy continued to develop his sound and expand his audience beyond Nigeria.

The Songs That Made Him a Global Star

Burna Boy has released numerous successful songs throughout his career. Among his most popular and influential records are:

Like to Party

Ye

On the Low

Anybody

Dangote

Gbona

Wonderful

Way Too Big

Kilometre

Last Last

For My Hand featuring Ed Sheeran

Alone

City Boys

Sittin’ On Top of the World

Higher

Songs such as “Ye” and “On the Low” played important roles in expanding his international popularity, while “Last Last” became one of his biggest global hits, earning widespread success across streaming platforms and international charts.

A Career Built on Major Albums

Burna Boy’s discography reflects his growth from a Nigerian star into a global music figure. His major albums include:

L.I.F.E (2013)

On a Spaceship (2015)

Outside (2018)

African Giant (2019)

Twice as Tall (2020)

Love, Damini (2022)

I Told Them… (2023)

No Sign of Weakness (2025)

His 2019 album African Giant significantly strengthened his international profile and earned him major recognition.

However, Twice as Tall became one of the defining projects of his career when it won the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album, making Burna Boy one of Nigeria’s Grammy-winning music stars.

The “African Giant”

Burna Boy is widely known by the nickname “African Giant,” a title that reflects both his confidence and his ambition to position African music prominently on the global stage.

His music often combines entertainment with messages about African identity, social issues, success, struggle and personal experiences. He has also drawn inspiration from different cultures and musical traditions, helping him create a sound that appeals to audiences across Africa, Europe, the United States and other parts of the world.

Breaking International Barriers

Over the years, Burna Boy has performed at some of the world’s most prominent venues and music festivals and collaborated with international artistes including Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, 21 Savage and Brandy, among others.

His success has also translated into historic chart achievements. In 2023, I Told Them… became the first international Afrobeats album by an artiste from outside the UK to reach number one on the UK Official Albums Chart, according to the Official Charts Company.

He also made history as the first African artiste to perform at the 2024 Grammy Awards, further highlighting the growing influence of African music on the global stage.

Awards and Recognition

Burna Boy’s career has earned him numerous international nominations and awards. His achievements include a Grammy Award and multiple Grammy nominations, as well as recognition at major African and international music awards.

According to the Recording Academy, Burna Boy had accumulated one Grammy win and 13 nominations through the 2026 Grammy Awards.

In 2026, his album No Sign of Weakness received a nomination for Best Global Music Album, while “Love” was nominated for Best African Music Performance.

Beyond the Music

Away from the stage, Burna Boy has built a powerful public identity around his music and the promotion of African culture. He has consistently expressed pride in his Nigerian and African roots, while using his international platform to demonstrate that African artistes can compete at the highest level of the global entertainment industry.

His journey from Port Harcourt to the world’s biggest music stages has made him one of the leading figures of his generation.

With a catalogue of hit songs, critically acclaimed albums, international collaborations and historic achievements, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu — Burna Boy — remains one of the most important Nigerian artistes of the modern era and a major force in the continued global rise of African music.