The third Ghana Chieftaincy Awards and Royal Investment Summit, originally scheduled for October 3–5, 2025, has been rescheduled to May 8–9, 2026.
The event, which honours the vital role of chiefs and traditional rulers in national development, will still take place at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. Organisers have assured that all previously confirmed invitations and partnerships remain valid.
In a statement, the Obokese Foundation and the Black Star Experience Secretariat explained that the decision followed extensive consultations with traditional leaders, government officials, development partners, and international collaborators. They added that the new dates would allow for broader participation, stronger partnerships, and improved preparations to give the awards the global attention they deserve.
“This is not just about postponing an event; it is about placing Ghana’s traditional leadership at the centre of development, culture, and investment,” the statement read, noting that the 2026 edition is expected to be the most impactful yet.
Since its inception in 2021, the Ghana Chieftaincy Awards has grown into a platform that celebrates the innovation, resilience, and contributions of chiefs, queen mothers, and other traditional authorities.
Earlier this year, Deputy Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, who launched the 2025 edition, praised the initiative for recognising traditional rulers and highlighting their role in peacebuilding and socio-economic transformation.
The awards recently entered a groundbreaking partnership with the Black Star Experience, designed to add cultural vibrancy and strengthen ties with the African diaspora.
Rex Omar, Presidential Staffer for the Black Star Experience, welcomed the new timeline as an opportunity rather than a setback. Speaking to Graphic Showbiz on Saturday, September 20, he said:
“This delay is not a setback — it’s a chance. We want the Ghana Chieftaincy Awards to shine on the global stage. To achieve that, we must get the planning, involvement, and energy right. With more time, more chiefs, more partners, and more diaspora friends can join in.”
He further explained that the long-term vision is to transform the event from being merely an awards night into a cultural and lifestyle experience.
“For us, Black Star Experience is a lifestyle — it’s how Ghanaians and those who love Ghana live our identity daily. Whether through music, food, fashion, or traditions, this awards platform must reflect that,” he added.