During the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Sierra Leone and Kenya officially stepped forward as founding champions of the Commonwealth Creative Economy Partnership by signing formal Statements of Intent with The Akuna Group.
Designed as a voluntary, country-led platform, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between creative talent and essential resources, including professional training, capital investment, entrepreneurial enterprise, and international markets across the Commonwealth and beyond.
The high-profile signing ceremony took place during the Akuna Moment of Engagement in the distinguished presence of Sierra Leone’s President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio. The agreement was formally executed by Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. A. Korir Sing’Oei, and Sir Idris Elba representing The Akuna Group, while Honourable Joycelyn Tetteh delivered a message of goodwill on behalf of Ghana. The event formed part of broader celebrations hosted by Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who welcomed delegates to mark the nation’s 45th year of independence.
Opening the proceedings, Sir Idris Elba emphasized the unifying potential of cultural expression, noting that The Akuna Group is dedicated to turning creative connections into tangible economic opportunities so that young people can sustain a livelihood from their talents and retain ownership of their intellectual property. This vision aligns closely with national development strategies in the signatory nations. Chief Minister Sengeh underscored that Sierra Leone views its youth as an invaluable asset for investment under President Bio’s human capital agenda, while Dr. Sing’Oei noted that the partnership will provide Kenyan youth creative enterprises with a reliable pathway to international markets, complementing local initiatives like Talanta Hela.
The broader scope of Akuna’s engagement spans financial innovation, professional training, and international collaboration. A notable component includes the “Script to Screen with AI” initiative—backed by a one million dollar grant from Google.org and developed in partnership with Google and Curious Refuge—which is slated to train emerging filmmakers across Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and South Africa. Additionally, recent regulatory milestones, such as the admission of Akuna Wallet Ltd to the Bank of Ghana’s regulatory sandbox, reflect ongoing efforts to streamline cross-border earnings for creative professionals. Ghana’s representative highlighted that these developments will powerfully amplify West African storytelling on the global stage.
Parallel diplomatic discussions during the summit expanded the initiative’s reach across international corridors. Sir Idris and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley explored a collaborative, Barbados-led framework designed to link African and Caribbean artistic talent through cultural exchanges and joint commissions, while consultations with Central Bank of Barbados Governor Dr. Kevin Greenidge addressed the practical hurdles of cross-border financial transactions. Furthermore, strategic talks with UK political leaders focused on expanding vocational pathways and hands-on training programs inspired by the work of The King’s Trust and the Elba Hope Foundation. Together, these agreements establish a robust framework for connecting creative skills with sustainable global livelihoods.
ABJ/APA