We Speak Music
New Zealand Named Focus Country at The Great Escape 2026
For the first time in its history, The Great Escape Festival in Brighton is handing the spotlight to New Zealand, naming Aotearoa the official Focus Country for 2026. The move signals a major moment for the island nation’s music export scene, as the New Zealand Music Commission and Live Nation New Zealand join forces to present a 10-artist showcase takeover of Patterns on Thursday 14th May.
Running from 12pm to 4pm across both upstairs and downstairs rooms, the event will transform the venue into a concentrated snapshot of New Zealand’s sonic identity. From alt-pop experimentation to post-punk grit and Pacific psychedelia, the lineup promises a cross-section of one of the most quietly influential music scenes in the world.
Industry leaders are framing the showcase as more than a performance opportunity—it’s a strategic cultural export moment. Alan Holt of the New Zealand Music Commission described The Great Escape as a long-standing pillar of the country’s international music activity, while Live Nation New Zealand’s Mark Kneebone emphasized the importance of building global pathways while reinforcing the local ecosystem.
With alumni success stories like Lorde, The Naked and Famous, Ladyhawke, and Flight of the Conchords already shaping global perception of New Zealand music, this 2026 focus feels less like an introduction and more like an expansion of an established legacy.
ABOUT THE NZ MUSIC COMMISSION
The New Zealand Music Commission is a Government-funded agency committed to growing the NZ music business. The Commission undertakes projects and partnerships aimed at exporting NZ music and assisting music businesses in working internationally.
www.nzmusic.org.nz | international@nzmusic.org.nz | https://www.livenation.co.nz/ | www.greatescapefestival.com
We Speak Music
From 46th to 3rd: Asokwa Municipal Assembly’s Remarkable Rise in Financial Governance
A year can make a remarkable difference, and for the Asokwa Municipal Assembly, it has changed everything.
After placing 46th in 2024, the Assembly has surged to an impressive 3rd position in Ghana’s 2025 Public Financial Management Compliance League Table, earning national recognition for its commitment to transparency, accountability and responsible financial management.
The Public Financial Management Compliance League Table, supported by the European Union and coordinated by the Centre for Local Governance Advocacy (CLGA), assesses all 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies across the country. It measures how effectively assemblies manage public funds through budgeting, procurement, revenue generation and financial reporting.
Asokwa’s score of 92.00% placed it among the very best in Ghana, with only Bia East District Assembly and Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly ranking ahead. The performance stands well above the national average of 56.20%, underlining the municipality’s exceptional progress.
Behind this success is a deliberate commitment to strengthening financial discipline. Under the leadership of Municipal Chief Executive Hon. Amoh Kamel, the Assembly has embraced reforms aimed at improving compliance with financial regulations and ensuring greater accountability in the use of public resources.
The national recognition was formally presented during an awards ceremony, where Hon. Gladys G.N. Tetteh, Deputy Executive Director of CLGA, presented the Assembly with an award acknowledging its outstanding performance. The citation commended Asokwa’s efforts in improving public financial management and maintaining compliance throughout the financial management process.
The Assembly’s remarkable improvement demonstrates what focused leadership, teamwork and dedication to good governance can achieve. Rising 43 places within a single year is a significant accomplishment that reflects consistency, careful planning and efficient execution.
Asokwa’s latest achievement not only brings pride to the municipality but also serves as a benchmark for other local assemblies striving to improve governance and accountability.
As the municipality celebrates this milestone, attention now turns to sustaining these standards and pursuing an even greater achievement in the years ahead.
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