Ghanaian singer, Afua Asantewaa, is set to take another shot at the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest singing marathon by an individual.

In December 2023, Asantewaa had embarked on the sing-a-thon aiming to surpass the existing record held by Indian Sunil Waghmare, who sang for an impressive 105 hours from March 3 to March 7, 2012.

But despite her determination, her attempt fell short, resulting in her disqualification by the GWR from claiming the title.

In a statement announcing her second attempt for the sing-a-thon, Asantewaa’s manager, Gladys Osei Owiredu, said the songstress was determined to break the existing record as preparations are in full swing for her to take on the challenge.

According to Owiredu, the sing-a-thon which is scheduled to take place from December 21 to 25 at the Heroes’ Park, Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, will once again focus on Ghanaian songs with the aim of promoting local music to a global audience.

“I can confirm that she is ready for the task ahead. It’s been challenging, by way of preparations, but I can say she is ready,” said Owiredu.

“And like the first attempt, we are doing strictly Ghanaian songs. The objective is to promote our songs. We succeeded in doing so during the first attempt in Accra, and we believe it will reach greater heights in the second attempt,” she said.

Owiredu added that Asantewaa’s second attempt aims to exceed her previous achievement and further amplify the cultural significance of Ghanaian music on an international stage.

Asantewaa’s record-breaking endeavour has garnered the backing of several corporate organisations in Ghana including International Maritime Hospital, Ike’s Cafe and Grill, Ghana Gas, Nasco Electronics, Perla Natural Mineral Water, Anointed Electrical Engineering, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, and Angel Group Limited.

“With the unwavering support of these sponsors and the determination of the Singathon team, all eyes will be on Kumasi as Afua Asantewaa takes to the stage for this monumental feat.
Ghana awaits with bated breath as she strives to make history,” Owiredu stated.

The military authorities in Niger Republic has suspended BBC Radio for three months for allegedly “spreading false news” in its reportage of jihadists attacks where it said around 90 Nigerien soldiers were killed on Wednesday.

According to reports, the British broadcaster had reported on its website in Hausa on Wednesday that gunmen had killed more than 90 Nigerien soldiers and more than 40 civilians in two villages near the border with Burkina Faso.

The report was rebroadcasted by other international outlets like the French broadcaster, Radio France International, (RFI), which also reported on the attack, calling it a jihadi attack and citing the same death toll.

But the Nigerien authorities denied that an attack happened in the area in a statement read on state television and said it would file a complain against the outlets for “incitement to genocide.”

A statement by Communications Minister, Raliou Sidi Mohamed, which announced the suspension, accused the British media outlet of spreading erroneous information on the attacks.

The military junta added that the ban on the BBC was as a result of airing “erroneous information likely to destabilise social peace and undermine the morale of the troops fighting jihadists” and will come into force with immediate effect” countrywide.

“BBC broadcasts false information aimed at destabilizing social calm and undermining the troops’ morale,” Mohamed said in letters sent to radio stations that rebroadcast the BBC content, mandating the stations to suspend BBC’s programs with immediate effect.

Though the media outfit has not commented on the suspension, popular BBC programs, including those in Hausa which is the most-spoken language in Niger, will be affected by the suspension of the BBC services.