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The much-anticipated Nsawam Music and Arts Awards (NMA Awards) is set to return on January 1, 2027, with the organisers promising a bigger and more engaging celebration of music, arts, entertainment and creative talent.

The event, organised by GH EVENTS and led by Newman Kwaku Prince, will mark the second edition of the awards scheme, which seeks to recognise and celebrate individuals and organisations making significant contributions to the creative and entertainment industry in Nsawam and beyond.

The maiden edition attracted approximately 1,000 people, creating a memorable platform for entertainers, industry players, businesses, community leaders and members of the public to come together and celebrate local talent.

Building on the success of the first edition, the organisers say this year’s event is expected to attract an even larger audience and provide a bigger platform for nominees, performers, creatives and other stakeholders within the entertainment industry.

One of the major activities is the NMA Nominees Jams scheduled for November 1, 2026. The programme will bring nominees and entertainment enthusiasts together for a night of music, interaction and entertainment ahead of the main awards ceremony.

The organisers will also hold a Health Walk, aimed at promoting healthy living and bringing members of the community together in a positive and engaging environment.

As part of the organisers’ commitment to giving back to society, a donation to the NsawamPrisons has also been planned.

The Nsawam Music and Arts Awards is expected to bring together stakeholders from across the entertainment industry, including musicians, actors, media personalities, event organisers, fashion creatives, DJs, producers and other professionals contributing to the growth of the creative sector.

The organisers are calling on businesses, corporate organisations, individuals and other well-meaning stakeholders to come on board as sponsors and partners.

The organisers believe that support from businesses and individuals will help make the 2027 edition more impactful while providing opportunities for sponsors to connect with a large audience and associate their brands with the promotion of music, arts, entertainment and community development.

With the first edition attracting about 1,000 people, the organisers are confident that the second edition will provide an even bigger platform for businesses and individuals to reach audiences in Nsawam and surrounding communities.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has acknowledged inadequate funding as a major factor delaying the completion of the Boankra Integrated and Logistics Terminal (BILT), popularly known as the Boankra Inland Port.

According to him, the financial challenges confronting the project have affected the pace of work, making it necessary for government and other stakeholders to find a sustainable funding arrangement to ensure its completion.

Dr. Amoakohene said the government, through the Ministry of Finance, is working towards developing a roadmap that would bring all relevant stakeholders together to mobilise the resources needed to fund the project.

He stressed that the project could not be abandoned because of its potential to contribute significantly to the economy, particularly in the areas of trade, logistics and transportation.

The Minister made the remarks when he led members of the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to inspect ongoing works at the project site.

He explained that the project was initially not among government-funded projects, but developments surrounding its implementation had made government intervention necessary.

He said government is therefore prepared to explore ways of supporting the project to ensure that the investment already made would not go to waste and that the facility could eventually serve its intended purpose.

The first phase of the project, which is currently about 65 percent complete, is expected to become operational once completed, while work on the second phase would subsequently take off.

Dr. Amoakohene expressed satisfaction with the progress of work so far and commended Justmoh Construction Limited, the contractor working on the project, for the work done despite the funding constraints.

The Boankra Integrated and Logistics Terminal is expected to serve as a major inland trade and logistics facility, providing an important link between the middle belt of the country and Ghana’s seaports.

The Chief Executive Officer of Justmoh Construction Limited, Dr. Justice Amoh, also identified funding as the major challenge affecting the project.

He disclosed that the project had not received funding for some time now, a situation he said had contributed significantly to the delays.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Prof. Ransford Edward Gyampo, explained that work on the project would have progressed further if the contractors had the necessary funds, expressing optimism that the government would mobilise the resources needed to support its completion.

The General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God (AG), Ghana, Rev. Stephen Yenusom Wengam, has announced that its upcoming World Assemblies of God Congress will drive a global expansion agenda aimed at expanding the Christian faith and planting at least one million churches by 2033.

He said the target formed a major part of the theme for the 10th Triennial World Assemblies of God Congress, which is scheduled to take place in Accra from October 14 to 16, 2026.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the World Assemblies of God Congress, under the theme ‘COMMISSIONED: One Mandate, Every Nation,’ Rev. Wengam said the theme is not just a mere slogan but a call on all Assemblies of God churches, pastors and members to embark on evangelism.

According to him, the MM33 target is linked to the commemoration of 2,000 years since the resurrection of Jesus Christ, with the Congress also focusing on church health, empowering the next generation and pursuing greater revival.

Rev. Wengam said the Congress would provide an opportunity for church leaders and members from around the world to develop strategies to improve the growth of the denomination and sustain its Pentecostal drive.

‘A major plank of the World Congress is to explore strategies to accelerate the expansion and Pentecostal fervor of Assemblies of God,’ he said.

He noted that Assemblies of God currently had about 89.9 million members and 451,000 local branches worldwide, with about 20 million of its members in Africa, which he described as a major centre of growth and revival for the church, stressing that Assemblies of God, Ghana, had about 10,077 local branches nationwide and a membership of more than 1.2 million.

The General Superintendent said the Congress would be the first time in the 115-year history of the Assemblies of God Fellowship that the global gathering would be held in Africa, where delegates from more than 100 countries are expected to converge in Accra for the event.

The Congress will feature morning sessions at the Black Star Square and evening revival rallies at the Accra Sports Stadium.

He said the Congress, which will also be opened to members of all denominations, will feature local and international gospel artistes, including Joe Mettle, Sinach and Dunsin Oyekan, adding that the Congress would also serve as a platform for them to pray for the country and the world, particularly in response to what he described as global military conflicts and social challenges.

Rev. Wengam added that President John Mahama, Global Chairman of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship and General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Singapore, Rev. Dominic Yeo, as well as former President of Malawi and former General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Malawi, Rev. Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, and other notable dignitaries are expected to grace the event at the Black Star Square in Accra.

The Minority in Parliament has demanded the immediate suspension of the country’s maritime and port cooperation agreement with Colombia, citing growing concerns over the country’s links to major cocaine seizures at home and abroad.

The Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee also wants the Government to suspend the visa-waiver arrangement with Colombia and submit both agreements to a comprehensive national security review before they are allowed to continue.

The demand comes against the backdrop of a series of large cocaine seizures involving consignments linked to Ghana, including a recent seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine by French authorities at the Port of Dunkirk.

In a statement signed by the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee and Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo, Samuel A. Jinapor, the Minority said the scale of the seizures was ‘unprecedented’ in Ghana’s history and required urgent action by the government.

The caucus said the developing relationship between Ghana and Colombia had become a national security concern because Colombia remained a major departure point for cocaine shipments globally.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 2026 World Drug Report, Colombia, followed by Peru and Brazil, were the main departure countries for cocaine shipments worldwide between 2020 and 2024.

The report further states that cocaine leaving Colombia for North America and Europe is transported primarily by sea.

It is against this background, the Minority said, that Government must subject the new arrangements with Colombia to closer scrutiny.

Tema-Cartagena Link

Ghana and Colombia signed a memorandum of understanding on port cooperation in March 2026, aimed at strengthening maritime connectivity, improving logistics and opening new trade routes between Latin America and Africa.

The agreement provides for cooperation in areas including port management, customs processes, logistics efficiency and infrastructure modernisation. Colombia described the arrangement as part of efforts to open new maritime routes and strengthen its role as a gateway to Africa.

The Minority, however, says the agreement must now be examined against the emerging narcotics-trafficking concerns.

It said the development of maritime connectivity between Tema and Cartagena, coupled with the visa-waiver arrangement, required Government to first establish whether adequate safeguards existed to prevent Ghana from being exploited by international criminal networks.

‘Prudence and good governance demand a comprehensive national-security assessment of that arrangement before it is permitted to remain in operation,’ the Minority said.

The Caucus therefore wants the maritime and port cooperation arrangements suspended forthwith.

It is also demanding the suspension of the bilateral visa-waiver arrangement and wants the entire framework, including the visa-waiver agreement, submitted to Parliament for a comprehensive security review.

Cocaine Concerns

The Minority’s call follows growing international attention on cocaine consignments linked to Ghana.

A JoyNews Research report published on September 29, citing Belgian customs figures, said Ghana was the fifth-largest country of origin for cocaine seized at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium in 2025.

Ghana was the only African country among the top five, with Ecuador, Costa Rica, Brazil and Colombia making up the other four.

Belgian customs recorded nearly 55 tonnes of cocaine seizures at Antwerp in 2025, compared with 44 tonnes in 2024.

The classification, however, refers to the country where a container was loaded and shipped, rather than where the cocaine was produced. The JoyNews report said the cocaine seized from Ghana-linked shipments originated from the Andes and was concealed in legitimate exports.

The report cited several major seizures involving cargo from Ghana, including 2,829 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in cassava flour shipped from Tema to Belgium in November 2025 and a further 1,158 kilogrammes seized in December.

In June 2025, Dutch authorities also seized 4.5 tonnes of cocaine concealed in a timber shipment from Tema at the Port of Amsterdam, while French customs intercepted nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine in a container of plastic waste from Ghana at Dunkirk in September 2026.

A separate JoyNews Research tally published yesterday put the number of cocaine cases linked to Ghana since March 2025 at 11, out of 28 drug-related busts recorded in Ghana or involving shipments that left or passed through the country.

The tally estimated Ghana-linked cocaine seizures at about 16 tonnes, with four major foreign seizures in Amsterdam, Antwerp and Dunkirk accounting for about 12.4 tonnes.

Ports Under Scrutiny

The Minority said the seizures had already raised questions about the integrity of Ghana’s ports and could damage the country’s international reputation.

It warned that Government must not compound the concerns by expanding bilateral maritime arrangements before the associated security risks had been properly assessed and addressed.

‘Our ports must remain gateways for legitimate trade, and not conduits for international criminal networks,’ the statement said.

The Minority has previously demanded a parliamentary inquiry into major narcotics seizures linked to Ghana, arguing that the developments raise questions about port security, customs controls, intelligence gathering and narcotics enforcement.

The latest demand therefore adds a diplomatic and trade dimension to the ongoing debate over Ghana’s fight against narcotics trafficking.

The Minority maintained that the security of Ghana’s borders, the integrity of state institutions and the country’s international reputation must take precedence over the expansion of bilateral arrangements.

It said it would continue to demand accountability from Government and push for measures to protect Ghana’s national interest.

Jerry Anyimah is seeking a second term as NDC Dome-Kwabenya Constituency Treasurer, putting his four-year record of financial and logistical support for party activities at the centre of his re-election bid while promising a new welfare system and greater transparency in the distribution of resources to branches.

Mr. Anyimah said his first term had been defined by honesty, dedication and practical support for party activities across the constituency.

He cited contributions to the Constituency Executive Committee’s flag-hoisting and sound truck projects, Constituency Youth Wing initiatives, feeding of party agents during voter registration and on voting day, printing of party T-shirts, door-to-door campaign activities, and branch and ward programmes.

‘I have worked together with you as the Constituency Treasurer with honesty and dedication in the last four years. I have supported both in cash and kind many constituency activities,’ Mr. Anyimah said.

Welfare system

At the heart of his second-term agenda is a proposal to establish a comprehensive welfare system for party members.

Mr. Anyimah said the proposed system would operate separately from the Constituency Executive Committee and be managed by representatives appointed from the wards.

He also pledged to maintain transparency in the management and distribution of party resources, stressing that resources meant for the branches must reach them.

His appeal to delegates and party members is therefore anchored on building on his first-term experience while introducing a more structured welfare arrangement and strengthening accountability to the grassroots.

‘I wish to serve our party for the second term as the Constituency Treasurer and appeal to you, fellow hardworking comrades of Dome-Kwabenya, for your support,’ he said.

There was wailing and despair at the North Industrial Area on Thursday morning as workers of companies located in the area including Duraplast Ghana watched helplessly while fire swept through their warehouses and shops at Avenor, destroying millions of cedis worth of PE pipes, water storage tanks and other products.

At the time of filing this report, there were thick smoke at the scene as firefighters continued efforts to contain the blaze.

Reports gathered indicated that the fire reportedly started in the early hours of Thursday, October 1, 2026, around the Kofikrom area. The flames spread through parts of the industrial enclave and later reached the vicinity of the Duraplast factory. Firefighters initially faced difficulties accessing the affected area due to narrow or blocked routes and wooden structures.

The Ghana National Fire Service later reported that the fire had been brought under control by about 11 a.m. The outbreak also affected electricity supply in parts of Accra, with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) reporting an outage linked to the fire near its Substation D at Avenor.

Workers of Duraplast, on the other hand, were seen rushing in their numbers to rescue polytanks as the devastating fire swept through the company’s facility.

The Warehouse Manager of Duraplast Ghana, Grace Duah, recounted how fire gutted the company’s factory at Accra’s North Industrial Area, stating that what started as smoke billowing from behind the factory’s wall at about 6:40 a.m. quickly escalated into a raging inferno, reducing huge stocks of finished pipes to ashes before firefighters could bring it under control.

‘About 20 minutes to seven, I got here and realised smoke was coming. Some of my colleagues also called me and we rushed there and realised fire was coming from behind our wall,’ she stated.

She said they quickly called the Ghana National Fire Service, but their response was delayed. ‘We were trying to call the Fire Service but it took them time to arrive. Before they arrived, the fire had escalated into our yard. Within 10 to 15 minutes, the fire started entering the yard and burning our products. We lost our PE pipes, a lot of pipes,’ Madam Duah stated.

She added that no one communicated the exact cause of the fire to her before she arrived at the scene.

Meanwhile, the Marketing Manager of Duraplast Ghana, Emmanuel Donkor, also blamed the extent of damage on the late arrival of fire officers and empty hydrants. ‘I got to the office about six when I was called that there was fire nearby. Myself and some colleagues came and we called the Fire Service. They told us they were on their way. They came after about two hours and couldn’t control the fire,’ he said. ‘If they had come like 30 minutes or 20 minutes earlier, we could have just stopped the fire there and then. But all the hydrants were also empty,’ he added.

The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has disclosed that squatters would be cleared from the North Industrial Area enclave within the next 24 hours following the fire that gutted the Duraplast factory.

According to the Mayor, the decision has become necessary because activities of squatters and unauthorised structures in the industrial enclave are fueling recurrent fire outbreaks as well as hampering access for emergency services.

He explained that many of the squatters have erected makeshift structures with highly combustible materials close to factories and warehouses, with illegal electrical connections and open fires for cooking, creating a high fire risk for the entire area.

Mr. Allotey said the presence of squatters also blocked access routes, which contributed to the delay in firefighting efforts during the Duraplast incident – a concern raised by staff of the company.

Mayor Allotey said the Assembly cannot allow the situation to continue, hence the 24-hour ultimatum to clear all unauthorised occupants to create fire belts, restore access for fire tenders as well as protect lives, property and industries operating in the North Industrial Area.

With pundits tipping Boakye Agyarko to win Saturday’s national chairmanship race for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the former Energy Minister has completed his nationwide tour.

Agyarko is poised to clinch victory in tomorrow’s race in the Ashanti Regional capital.

Beaming with confident smiles, he could not but say to his teeming supporters and well-wishers that ‘the tour is over.’

He had just finished a marathon nationwide campaign trip. His message was digested by his audience who could not forget his tireless journey through the political seasons. His popular lines: ‘My party right or wrong I stand by it,’ resonated among his audience wherever he touched base.

His mission, as he has said since he commenced his base-touching tour, is to ‘unite our party, rebuild our structures and deliver victory in 2028.’

A victory for the NPP being his preoccupation, he said, demands the bestowal of the chairmanship to actualise this dream, stressing, ‘I need that mandate to lead that work.’

Following the filing of his nomination forms at the NPP headquarters earlier, Agyarko said his vision was anchored on what he described as ‘Operation One Touch,’ a strategy aimed at achieving two victories in one election; electing Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as President and restoring the parliamentary majority.

‘On 3rd October, if you are satisfied, give me the mandate. And do not give it to me for my sake. Give it to me to deliver ‘Operation One Touch.’ Operation One Touch is simple. One touch, two victories.

‘Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will be sworn in as President of the Republic of Ghana, and the Majority restored to our side of the House in Parliament. A President without a Majority is a driver without a road. We must win both, and we must win them together, in one touch,’ he stated.

For a man who believes in discipline, he has assured all party faithful that under him as national chairman, the NPP will witness unity countrywide – from Pusiga to Prampram.

He acknowledged the NPP’s decline in parliamentary representation, noting that the party’s seats had reduced from 169 in 2016 to 137 in 2020 and further down to 88 in the 2024 general election.

According to him, the party’s presidential vote deficit in 2024 reflected a deeper disconnect between the NPP and some sections of the electorate, especially traders, teachers, farmers, drivers and young graduates who once queued in the sun for the party, anomaly which he promised to address when he takes over the mantle of leadership of the party.

‘The Elephant is wounded. But hear me clearly: a wounded elephant is still an elephant. Our tradition is sound. Our ideas are sound. What we lost was not our creed. What we lost was the discipline of tending it,’ he said.

Mr. Agyarko highlighted his experience in banking, politics and public service, citing his 22 years at the Bank of New York, where he rose to the position of Vice President, as well as his roles as a founding member of the NPP, National Campaign Manager in 2012, Policy Adviser and Cabinet Minister.

He also outlined five key commitments he would pursue if elected National Chairman, including ensuring unity within the party, creating a credible membership register, improving financial accountability, reconciling aggrieved members and strengthening party structures.

He said the party’s transition to a one-member, one-vote system following a Supreme Court directive required a transparent and reliable membership register.

Mr. Agyarko also called for unity among party members, stressing that the NPP must remain a home for all supporters regardless of background or religion.

‘We are a broad tradition. Christian and Muslim. North and South. The veteran who stood in the rain in 1992 and the student who joined us last year. The Elephant is large enough to carry all of them, and it must,’ he stated.

Agyarko was born in 1956, at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to Kwasi Agyarko. His father was a merchant and United Party activist from Jamase in the Ashanti Region and his mother was Jane Ladze Padi from Krobo Odumase in the Eastern Region.

Agyarko attended the K. O. Methodist Primary School in Ashtown and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Primary School in Kumasi. He then proceeded to Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast for his secondary education from where he had both his GCE Ordinary Level and GCE Advanced Level. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon and immigrated to the United States of America as a political refugee.

Whilst there, he obtained an Advanced Professional Certificate in Banking from the American Institute of Banking and a Master of Business Administration in Financial Economics from Pace University, New York.