In a groundbreaking meeting held at the Jubilee House in Accra, the organizers of the Africa Monologue Challenge and the Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President came together to discuss tourism promotion in Ghana and the long-term vision of the organizers in creating a Pan-African Union of Creatives. The meeting was a testament to the importance of cultural exchange and economic development, as well as the power of collaboration between different organizations.
The Africa Monologue Challenge is an annual event that showcases the talents of African creatives, with a particular focus on monologues. The event attracts participants from across the continent and the diaspora, making it a truly Pan-African event. The Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President is responsible for promoting the interests of the African diaspora and fostering connections between Africa and its diaspora communities.
The AMC team assured the Office of the President of their commitment to working together with different Africans and African organizations, including the Africa Union and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to develop the continent. They emphasized the importance of involving the diaspora community in the development agenda of Africa, noting that as the 6th region of the continent, the Diaspora must play a significant role in Africa's development.
Mr. Awuah expressed the interest of the Office of the President in the initiatives of the group and promised his office's support towards all the wonderful ideas they intend to roll out in the coming months.
As part of his office's support for the Africa Monologue Challenge, Mr. Awuah promised to assist the Diaspora finalist in the Africa Monologue Challenge to be able to come to Ghana to participate in the competition. This move, he said, will go a long way in promoting the African culture to the rest of the world and cementing Ghana's position as a leader in cultural tourism.
"Let's broaden our focus on tourism promotion in the country and encourage Ghanaians to visit various tourism sites. With the Monologue finalists coming to Ghana, we have a great opportunity to showcase the wonderful tourist attractions in the Volta, Central, Brong and Ahafo, Northern, Ashanti, and Eastern regions. Let's include these places in their itinerary to highlight the vast tourism attractions we have to the rest of the world," he emphasized.
He further instructed his office to formalize the entire discussion by documenting everything in writing and signing it to solidify their support.
According to the Executive Director of the African Chamber of Content Producers, Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, the Pan-African Union of Creatives is a unique initiative that seeks to harness the talents of African creatives and use their content to promote various sectors of the African economy. The initiative is expected to create opportunities for African creatives to showcase their talent, promote African culture, and contribute to the economic development of the continent. He also mentioned the Chamber’s plan to use the Maiden Africa Image Conference to initiate the conversation on the Africa rebranding agenda.
Mr. Fred Amugi, an esteemed member of the creative industry and a member of the group, expressed his concern regarding the inadequate networking opportunities available to artists of similar exposure levels in African countries. He emphasized the need to establish a stronger bond among compatriots in Africa and the Diaspora, along with several other creatives across the continent. Mr. Amugi disclosed that among other things, the team is actively working towards bridging this gap. He encouraged the Diaspora affairs community to come in their numbers at the National Theatre on the 27th May 2023 to witness a true Pan-African moment.
Other members of the group present at the meeting were, Mr. Mawuko Kuadzi, CEO of MK Casting; Mr. Einstein Baah Ntim, Head of Diaspora Engagement at the Office of the President; and Ms. Esther Kumawu, Executive Assistant at MK Casting. Other Sponsors and partners of the group are the National Film Authority and the Ghana Tourism Authority.
In conclusion, the meeting between the organizers of the Africa Monologue Challenge and the Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President at the Jubilee House Accra was a resounding success. With the support of the Office of the President, the AMC with its associated projects is well positioned to bring about positive change across the African continent.