The Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) has relaunched its flagship industry programme, the Gong Gong Awards, to celebrate individuals who push the boundaries of innovation and storytelling in Ghana’s advertising industry.

The revamped event, now called the Gong Gong Festival of Creativity & Awards, is set to take place from Monday, April 28 to Saturday, May 3, 2025.

The festival, themed “Disrupt & Inspire: Recognising Brands and Agencies that Challenge Norms and Redefine Creativity”, will honour outstanding achievements in advertising, branding, and creative communications.

A New Era for the Gong Gong Awards

In a statement, AAG Executive Director, Isaac Cudjoe, explained that after a two-year break, the awards had been rebranded to align with global trends in advertising, branding, and creative communications.

He highlighted that the week-long festival will feature a Brand and Creativity Exhibition at the Accra Mall, allowing industry players and consumers to experience cutting-edge advertising and branding excellence.

The event will also include panel discussions, masterclasses, and networking sessions to encourage collaboration and innovation within the advertising industry.

Expanded Award Categories

Mr Cudjoe noted that the Gong Gong Awards had been a hallmark of Ghana’s advertising industry for nearly 30 years and would now feature 17 award categories.

These will not only recognise creative agencies but also honour companies behind award-winning and outstanding brands.

“The awards will honour the most impactful advertising campaigns and creative works from 2023 and 2024,” the statement added.

Categories include:

• Radio Craft Gong Gong
• TV Craft Gong Gong
• Out of Home (OOH) Gong Gong
• Social & Influencer Gong Gong
• Digital Excellence Gong Gong
• Brand Experience & Activation Gong Gong
• Gong Gong for Good (for socially responsible campaigns)
• Platinum Gong Gong (the festival’s highest honour)

A new addition to this year’s awards is the “Gong Gong for Clients” category, featuring subcategories such as:

• Best Company in Media Strategy
• Best Company in Social Media & Influencer Marketing
• Best Creative Brand for 2023 and 2024

A Platform for Creativity and Innovation

Mr Cudjoe stressed that the Gong Gong Festival of Creativity & Awards was more than just an awards ceremony—it is a platform for challenging the status quo and inspiring the next generation of creatives.

“As Ghana’s premier advertising industry celebration, the festival will spotlight groundbreaking ideas, celebrate innovation, and honour brands and agencies that push creative boundaries,” he emphasised.

Each entry will cost GH¢1,500, with agencies submitting five entries paying GH¢1,000 for each additional entry beyond the first five.