The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts endorsed the 6th edition of EARLYFEST, Ghana’s leading festival celebration dedicated to early childhood education through creativity, culture, tourism, and sustainability.

Scheduled for November 20–22, 2026, at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra, it is organized and spearheaded by the Transformation Empowerment and Rural Integration in Africa (TERIA) Foundation.

It will be held under the theme “Educating Young Minds through Creativity, Culture, Tourism and Sustainability.”

Founder and CEO of TERIA Foundation, Walter Mawuli Gli, announced the ministry’s endorsement in a statement issued on Sunday, August 23, 2026, as preparations and momentum gear up for the event.

In the statement, he said that the sector’s support affirms the government’s commitment to using culture and tourism as tools for education, youth development, and the preservation of Ghana’s heritage.

*Expanded Year-Round Programme*

The 6th edition has been broadened into a national movement featuring five key activities:

*Early School Culture Tour* — Nationwide tour of basic schools to educate learners on cultural relevance and nurture talents.

*Mini EARLYFEST* — Community-level celebrations in selected districts.

*Early Eco Tour* — Visits to eco-tourism destinations and historic sites, including James Town Lighthouse, Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, and Nationalism Park.

*Early Clinic* — Workshops for parents, teachers, administrators, social workers, and stakeholders on early childhood development.

*Africa Early Childhood Education Awards* — Continental awards honouring outstanding teachers, caregivers, and institutions from Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and across Africa.

*Six Years of Impact*

Since its inception, EARLYFEST has partnered with the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Beyond the Return Secretariat, the National Commission on Culture, the UNESCO Ghana Commission, and the National Folklore Board.

Past editions have enjoyed support from Stanbic Bank Ghana, Bridging Histories UK, Adwinsa Publications, Suriname High Commission, Ghana Tourism Development Company LTD, and other institutions.

The 2026 celebration is expected to attract over 5,000 children, parents, teachers, creatives, and diaspora guests.

According to the organisers, activities will include an Early Fashion Show, Cooking Competition for educators, Music and Dance Choreography, talent shows, storytelling, art exhibitions, cultural displays, face painting, horse riding, and the Africa Early Childhood Education Awards.

Mr. Gli was thankful to the Ministry and partners since inception, and called on corporate Ghana, schools, and development partners to support the 6th edition.

By// Nana Kwame Sackey.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Eastern Regional Executive of the Tertiary Students Confederacy, the student wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Saturday, August 22, 2026, paid a courtesy call on the party’s newly elected Regional Youth Organizer, Samuel Osei Sarkodie, who is affectionately called SOS, at his private residence in Asokore Kumaa, Effiduase.

The delegation, led by its regional President, presented a citation to SOS and formally congratulated him on his sound victory in the party’s just-ended regional executives’ election, held at Asamankese on August 15, 2026.

SOS, a former one-term Youth Organizer of the New Juaben North constituency, polled 350 votes at the end of the election, as against Nana Kwaku Amoako’s 313 votes, and Luis Appiah scored 33 votes.

The group reaffirmed their commitment to helping the party to win the hearts of the youth in the various tertiary institutions to vote for NPP in 2028.

In his welcoming address, the Regional NPP Youth Organizer-elect thanked them for their kind gesture.

He noted that youth development is very paramount to him; therefore, he would put in place measures to ensure that all the youth wings in NPP in the Eastern Region progress in life.

SOS further assured them that, as the youth leader in the region, he would work assiduously with them to clinch power from the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2028.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Eastern Region on Saturday, August 15, 2026, massively endorsed the candidacy of Samuel Osei Sarkodie, popularly known as SOS, by voting for him as the Regional Youth Organizer.

The exuberant entrepreneur and financial expert was elected during the party’s regional executive election held at Asamankese.

SOS, the young entrepreneur and finance expert, polled 335 votes, followed by his close contender, Nana Kwaku Amoako, with 313 votes, while Luis Appiah placed third with 33 votes.

Having established himself through his leadership qualities within the party in New Juaben North and beyond, coupled with his philanthropic work, the party’s grassroots, Youth Wings, Members of Parliament, and delegates overwhelmingly voted for him to become the next Regional Youth Organizer.

SOS then expressed gratitude to the delegates for giving him the nod to serve the party for the next four years.

He reaffirmed his commitment to working hand in hand with the other elected executives, led by Chairman Jeff Konadu Addo, to secure victory for the NPP in 2028.


Over the past years, the indefatigable SOS has positively impacted the lives of many young people by providing financial support to tertiary students in the region, irrespective of their political affiliation.

He has contributed immensely to the growth and development of the New Patriotic Party in the Eastern Region.

During his tenure as the Youth Organizer of the New Juaben North Constituency from 2022 to 2026, he empowered many people through entrepreneurship training, especially the youth, to enable them to become productive members of the community and Ghana as a whole.

Before the regional executives’ election, he realized that many people in New Juaben North, particularly the aged, did not have National Health Insurance cards, making it difficult for them to access hospital treatment when they fell ill.

He used his SOS Foundation to facilitate replacements, renewals, and new NHIS cards for more than 3,000 residents in the constituency.

The beneficiary residents praised him for his benevolence, saying it would help them in many ways.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Member of Parliament for the Suhum constituency, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, popularly known as Protozoa, has admitted criticism as a key and major component in democratic dispensation.

He argued that it is unnecessary to threaten people for criticizing you about something they believe you could have done better to benefit the masses.

Protozoa added that in a democratic state, criticism is allowed, and it helps keep the leaders on their toes to deliver their promises in championing infrastructure projects for their people.

He made these remarks during the sod-cutting for the construction of the ultramodern Suhum Anglican Astro Turf project.

Before the 2024 election, he cut the first sod for the same project, but unfortunately, Ghana Gas didn’t grant him financial clearance, which led to the project being stalled.

He noted that this time around he is using his own common funds to continue the execution of the much-talked-about Astro Turf.

He expressed gratitude to the management of the Suhum Municipal Assembly for their support toward the project.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Suhum Municipal Assembly, Lydia Sarah Ohenewaa, underscored President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to infrastructure projects aimed at bringing development to the country.

She reiterated her commitment to release the MP’s common funds to the contractor on time to enable him to complete the project within 36 months frame and handover to the community.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

Some of the aggrieved branch executive members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Eastern Region have commended their regional Chairman, Dr. Mike Oliver Kevor, for his leadership style.

The NDC recently held its branch executive election to elect new leaders to spearhead the affairs of the party at the branch level to enable them to maintain power in 2028.

However, constituencies like Fanteakwa South, Akuapem North, Akwatia, Lower Many Krobo, among others, had issues with their album, which led to the omission of some current executive members of the party.

The affected members petitioned both the regional and national leadership to seek clarification on why their names have been omitted from the album before they will allow the election of the aforementioned constituencies to proceed.

When they submitted the petition letter to the national leadership, the national leadership directed the Eastern Regional Executives of the party to sit on the matter and resolve the issue to allow all qualified aspirants to contest the branch election.

After hearing the petitioners, the regional executives, led by Chairman Dr. Mike Oliver Kevor, assured that measures would be put in place to conduct the election to ensure there’s peace in those constituencies because the NDC is poised to maintain power in 2028.

Speaking to Journalists after a successful engagement with the regional leaders at their party office in Koforidua, James Ayim, one of the aggrieved members who serves as an Assembly member for Akyease Electoral Area, Osino in the Fanteakwa South District Assembly, thanked Dr. Mike Oliver Kevor for resolving the case amicably.

For his part, the aspiring Chairman for Lower Many Krobo constituency, Godwin Oblanda Totroku, pleaded that, if it would be possible, the national and regional executive members should assign one person each to all the affected constituencies to ensure that the branch election comes off within the time frame given to avoid any chaos.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

On Saturday, August 15, 2026, the New Patriotic Party went to the polls to elect its new Regional Executive Members across the country.

The exercise formed part of the party’s reorganization to capture political power in 2028.

In the Eastern Region, the position that garnered the most attention was the Chairmanship race, because Kwadwo Boateng Agyeman gave the incumbent Chairman, Jeff Konadu Addo, a tough contest in the last four years’ election.

However, he lost marginally to Jeff Konadu Addo to enable him to become the Eastern Regional NPP Chairperson in 2022.

Mr. Kwadwo Agyeman came back to contest Mr. Jeff Addo again in their just-ended regional executives’ election for the second time.

Unfortunately for him, he had 292 votes as against Jeff Konadu Addo 405 votes.

Jeff Konadu Addo humbles him with 113 votes to retain his seat as the Eastern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the second time.

Congratulations to you Obiara Jeff, may God bless and keep you.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline. com.

The Acting Director of Elections and Research for the upcoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) Eastern Regional Executive election, David Prah, has announced that more than 700 delegates are expected to participate in the exercise.

The delegates include 23 Members of Parliament, 10 Patrons, 627 Constituency Executives, 10 Council Elders, 17 Regional Executives, 3 Former Executive Members, and 23 TESCON Members.

The Eastern Regional NPP Executive election is slated for Saturday, August 15, 2026, at Pep Park in Asamankese.

Mr. Prah said that Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, the Flagbearer of the NPP, needs strong, vibrant, and intelligent executive members who will rally behind him and work hard to secure victory in 2028.

According to him, supporters of the 27 candidates vying for the various vacant positions have been advised to remain calm and refrain from making derogatory statements to ensure the success of the exercise.

He argued that Ghanaians are calling on the NPP to come and rescue them from the economic hardship that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has imposed on them.

Mr. Prah added that preparations are complete for Saturday’s election and assured that the election committee will ensure peace and transparency throughout the process.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Adontenhene of the Akuapem Traditional Council in the Eastern Region, Otoobuor Djan Kwasi, has revealed that the Chiefs in Akuapem will be carried in a palanquin as part of celebrating this year’s Odwira festival.

According to him, for some years now, the Chiefs haven’t been carried in a palanquin to celebrate the festival for some reason.

He, however, noted that measures have been implemented to restore peace in the area.

Otoobuor Djan Kwasi said this directive is coming from the Akuapehene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III, to celebrate the 200 years of the Akuapem Odwira festival in grand style and to make it a memorable one.

He made this known during the Adontenman Adaebutuw at Nsakyi and Aburi on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

They use this period to pray and seek guidance and protection, and to ask their ancestor to heal them from any form of communicable diseases that may occur on their land, as they prepare for the celebration.

The 40-day Adaebutuw noise-making ban would be lifted on September 23, 2026, for the Odwira festival and other activities to commence.

He then urged all his Chiefs to do well and get a palanquin to make the celebration of the Odwira Festival @200 a success because it is their birthday.

“Some people assumed that observing Adaebutuw and other related Ghanaian culture means that the traditional leaders worship gods.

“Meanwhile, before Christianity came to Ghana, the traditional leaders has the way of doing things, and it contributed immensely to the growth and development of the country,” he noted.

Otoobuor Djan Kwasi said that Jesus Christ embarked on a 40-day fast and prayed to seek new strength from his Father in heaven to enable him to conquer the devil and save the world from its inequality on the cross.

He indicated that it is the same thing Nanaanom does every year to intercede for their people ahead of their Festivals to make the country progress and prosper.

Source// Obohnewsinline.com.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

The Kyebi Akwadumhene in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council of the Eastern Region, Barima Pobi Asomaning III, has installed two new Chiefs to his cabinet.

These two newly installed chiefs are Nana Akosua Afayose as Mmabaahemaa, and Nana Yaw Ayim as Asafosiripi. They both swore an oath to serve in truth and pledged to support the community’s development.

The Akwadumhene also swore an oath to them and promised to protect them at all times, whenever the need arose, unless he was unwell.

“Development and progress are very key to me, and as you have been ushered into the Akwadum traditional council, put in every effort to help me make Akwadumman one of the growing and transformational communities in the Akyem Abuakwa State,” he said.

Barima Asomaning III then advised them to stay away from their old ways and live an exemplary life for others to emulate because they are now traditional leaders in the community.

Nana Akosua Afayose thanked Akwadumhene for the honor done her and promised to work hard to bring development to the area.

“As Mmabaahemaa, my responsibility is to champion the welfare of the young ladies in the community and I am poised to empower them to venture into entrepreneurship training to enable them to be self-reliant,” she indicated.

Therefore, she advised Ghanaian young ladies to take entrepreneurship programs seriously to avoid becoming a burden to their husbands.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

Ghana has been announced as the host country of the inaugural “Black Star Reggaefest”, a premier international reggae and cultural festival scheduled for December 2027 in Accra.

The initiative seeks to position Ghana as a leading destination for reggae music, cultural tourism, and creative exchange.

Officially launched by the Teria Foundation, the much‑anticipated event will be held under the theme “Where the World Meets Africa Through Reggae.”

It is being organized by Teria Foundation in collaboration with Carter Enterprises Empire USA as the international partner.

According to the organisers, the festival will unite acclaimed reggae artists, emerging talents, cultural practitioners, tourists, investors, and music lovers from Africa, the Caribbean, and across the globe.

Highlights will include international reggae concerts, cultural exhibitions, music business forums, youth empowerment programmes, food and craft markets, and curated tourism experiences showcasing Ghana’s rich heritage.

Founder of Teria Foundation, Walter Mawuli Gli, underscored the vision of the festival and highlighted its significance for the global community.

“Black Star Reggaefest is our vision to connect Africa with the world through reggae music, culture, and tourism. We are committed to building a world-class festival that showcases Ghana’s heritage, creates opportunities for creatives, and welcomes the world to the Black Star of Africa,” he said.

On her part, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Carter Enterprises Empire USA, Teresa D. Carter, expressed pride in partnering for the all‑important event.

“We are proud to partner with Teria Foundation on this exciting initiative. Black Star Reggaefest will celebrate unity, cultural exchange, and the global spirit of reggae while strengthening the bond between Africa, the Caribbean, the United States, and the worldwide African diaspora.”

Background

The Black Star Reggaefest, launched by Teria Foundation, is envisioned as a premier international reggae and cultural festival that will spotlight Ghana as a leading hub for reggae music, cultural tourism, and creative exchange.

Slated for the first week of December 2027 in Accra, Ghana, the festival will run under the theme “Where the World Meets Africa Through Reggae.”

To broaden its reach, Teria Foundation is collaborating with Carter Enterprises Empire USA as the international partner.

This partnership underscores the festival’s global ambition while ensuring strong connections between Africa, the Caribbean, the United States, and reggae communities worldwide.

Source// Nana Kwame Sackey.