Programme

Event Schedule

Join us for an immersive experience across three dynamic days

AfCFTA Tourism, Creatives, and Cultural Industries Forum & Festival

Watch highlights and moments from Creatives Connect Afrika

  • 08:00 AM – 09:00 AM

    Registration and Accreditation of participants

  • 09:00 AM – 09:30 AM

    Opening Session

    Programme Director: Mr. Samuel Agyeman, Communications Unit, AfCFTA Secretariat

    - Introduction and Welcome Message by AfCFTA Secretariat
    - Message by Africa Tourism Partners
    - Message by Black Star Experience

    Speakers:

    - Ms. Emily Mburu-Ndoria - Director of Trade in Services, Investment, Intellectual Property Rights & Digital Trade (DTIID), AfCFTA Secretariat, Ghana
    - Mr. Kwakye Donkor - Chief Executive Officer, Africa Tourism Partners, South Africa
    - Mr. Rex Owusu Marfo - Coordinator, Black Star Experience, Ghana

  • 09:35 AM – 10:00 AM

    Session 1

    Masterclass on Film

    Scene Setting Presentation:
    Boosting Africa’s film production through the AfCFTA – from audio-visual services to live-events (MICE, tourism and conferencing services), recreational services, artist mobility, carnet schemes/customs, and the evolving policy and regulatory landscape.

    Speaker:
    Mr. Fela Oke – Founder & CEO, Hyphen8 Media Partners, Nigeria

  • 09:35 AM – 10:00 AM

    Session 1

    Masterclass on Film

    Scene Setting Presentation:
    Boosting Africa’s film production through the AfCFTA – from audio-visual services to live-events (MICE, tourism and conferencing services), recreational services, artist mobility, carnet schemes/customs, and the evolving policy and regulatory landscape.

    Speaker:
    Mr. Fela Oke – Founder & CEO, Hyphen8 Media Partners, Nigeria

  • 10:00 AM – 10:25 AM

    Presentation 1:

    Deep dive into the business of Africa’s film industry – film trade, infrastructure, cross-border production, content development, financing vehicles, and digital streaming & distribution opportunities.

    Speaker:
    Mr. Joel 'Kachi Benson – Award-winning Documentary Filmmaker / VR Creator, Nigeria

  • 10:25 AM – 10:50 AM

    Presentation 2:

    Spotlight on Intellectual Property Rights – harnessing IPR for African creative and cultural industries commercialisation.

    Speaker:
    Ms. Maureen Esther Fondo – Head, Copyright and Related Rights, ARIPO, Zimbabwe

  • 10:50 AM – 11:20 AM

    Questions and Answers

    Programme Director:
    Mr. Emmanuel Sarpong, Film Producers Association of Ghana

  • 11:20 AM – 11:35 AM

    Networking Tea Break

  • 11:40 AM – 12:05 PM

    SESSION 2:

    Masterclass on Fashion Scene Setting Presentation: Fashioning intra-African trade – growing from emerging to industry power players, exploiting cross-border trade in garments, and strategies for market access within the AfCFTA framework.

    Speaker:
    Ms. Makeba Boateng – Fashion Designer & Founder, Fashion Forum Africa, Ghana

  • 12:05 PM – 12:30 PM

    Presentation 1:

    Shaping tomorrow’s fashion industry in Africa – examining commercial viability and the interconnectedness of African fashion, cultural heritage, film, music, and tourism value chains.

    Speaker:
    Ms. Koketso Chiepe – Fashion Designer, Botswana

  • 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM

    Presentation 2:

    AfCFTA – the gateway to business growth and pathways through a unified and diversified market for Africa’s fashion industry.

    Speaker:
    Ms. Daphine Lekipaika – Trade in Services Expert, AfCFTA Secretariat, Ghana

  • 12:50 PM – 13:20 PM

    Questions and Answers

    Programme Director:
    Ms. Briggette Harrington – CEO, Igire & AfCFTA Trading Company, Rwanda

  • 13:20 PM – 14:30 PM

    Networking Lunch

  • 14:30 PM – 14:55 PM

    SESSION 3:

    Masterclass on Music Scene Setting Presentation: AfCFTA – an unexplored unified and larger market for digital distribution and cross-border collaboration for Africa’s music industry.

    Speaker:
    Ms. Khadijat El-Alawa – Head of Music & Talent, AfroFuture, Ghana

  • 14:55 PM – 15:15 PM

    Presentation 1:

    The value of digital platforms – strategic pathways for global reach, brand equity, and commercialisation.

    Speaker:
    Mr. Ruddy Kwakye – CEO, Republic of Amusement, Ghana

  • 15:15 PM – 15:40 PM

    Questions and Answers

    Programme Director:
    Ms. Huguette Umutoni – Creative Economy & Global Partnerships Leader, Rwanda

  • 15:40 PM – 16:05 PM

    SESSION 4:

    Masterclass on Fintech Revolution & Financial Inclusion Scene Setting Presentation: Fintech revolution – new revenue streams and transparent payments for the African creatives ecosystem.

    Speaker:
    Mr. Owureku Asare – Director, Fintech and Innovation, Bank of Ghana

  • 15:40 PM – 16:05 PM

    Presentation 1:

    Financial inclusion – supporting accessible finance for Africa’s creative economy.

    Speaker:
    Mr. John Sande – Chief Operating Officer, Mediakits.io, Kenya

  • 16:25 PM – 16:45 PM

    Presentation 2:

    Digital payments – delivering innovative digital financial services to unlock the global creative economy.

    Speaker:
    Ms. Mariam K. A-Buahin – Chief Operating Officer, Akuna Group

  • 16:45 PM – 17:15 PM

    Questions and Answers

    Programme Director:
    Mr. Francis Doku – West Africa Director, Africa Tourism Partners

  • 17:30 PM – 17:40 PM

    Concluding Remarks

    Speaker:
    Mr. Rex Owusu Marfo – Coordinator, Black Star Experience, Office of the Presidency, Ghana

  • 17:40 PM – 17:55 PM

    Call-to-Action and Way Forward

    Speaker:
    Ms. Emily Mburu-Ndoria – Director, DTIID, AfCFTA Secretariat

  • 17:55 PM – 19:30 PM

    Accra By Night

  • 08:00 AM – 09:00 AM

    Registration and Accreditation of participants

  • 09:00 AM – 09:45 AM

    OPENING CEREMONY

    - Message by Black Star Experience, Office of the President of the Republic of Ghana (Mr. Rex Owusu Marfo)
    - Message by Africa Tourism Partners, South Africa (Mr. Kwakye Donkor)
    - Message by the European Union (Ambassador Rune Skinnebach)
    - Welcome Message by Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Ghana (Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie)
    - Solidarity Message by Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness & Industry, Ghana (Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare)

  • 09:45 AM – 10:00 AM

    Cultural Performance / Video

  • 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

    Keynote Address:
    H.E. Wamkele Mene – Secretary-General, AfCFTA Secretariat, Ghana

  • 10:15 AM – 10:20 AM

    Welcoming the Guest of Honour
    Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie – Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Ghana

  • 10:20 AM – 11:00 AM

    Official Opening by Guest of Honour
    His Excellency John Dramani Mahama – President of the Republic of Ghana

  • 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM

    Photo Session

  • 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

    Thought-Leadership Dialogue: Expanding Africa’s Creative Economy through Tourism, Film, Media, and Digital Innovation Linkages

    Panelists:
    - Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie – Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Ghana
    - Ms. Emily Mburu-Ndoria – Director of Trade in Services, Investment, Intellectual Property Rights & Digital Trade (DTIID), AfCFTA Secretariat
    - Mr. Temwa Gondwe – Director, Creatives and Diaspora, Afreximbank, Egypt
    - Hon. Abdoulie Jobe – Minister of Tourism, The Gambia
    - Ms. Otsetswe K. Koboyankwe – Acting CEO, National Arts Council of Botswana

    Moderator: Ms. Ama Konadu – Project Manager, Producer, and Facilitator

  • 12:30 PM – 13:30 PM

    Film Screening– Selected Filmmakers and Producers

  • 13:30 PM – 14:30 PM

    Networking Lunch & Exhibition Tours

  • 14:30 PM – 15:30 PM

    Thought-Leadership Dialogue: Harnessing the AfCFTA for Film, Fashion, and Music – addressing trade barriers, policy gaps, and investment opportunities to grow Africa’s creative economy.

    Panelists:
    - Ms. Theresa Oparebea Ayoade – Co-founder & CEO, Charterhouse Productions, Ghana
    - Ms. Marie Chantal Mazoume – Director, Creatives and Cultural Industries, Cameroon
    - Ms. Rita Ngenzi – Founding Director, Africa Creatives Alliance, Uganda
    - Mr. Gideon Aryeequaye – CEO, Creative Arts Agency, Ghana - Ms. Kefa Hussein Igilo – Filmmaker & TV Producer, Tanzania
    - Mr. Munyaradzi ‘Munya’ Chidzonga – Actor and Filmmaker, Zimbabwe

    Moderator: Ms. Marielle Barrow Maignan, PhD – President & Editor-in-Chief, Caribbean InTransit, Trinidad and Tobago

  • 15:30 PM – 15:40 PM

    Cultural Performance / Video

  • 15:45 PM – 16:15 PM

    Fireside Chat: Unleashing the Power of Storytelling – driving result-oriented intra-African trade through Africa’s creatives content (film, music, fashion, digital content, tourism).

    Speaker: Mr. Mike Otieno – Co-Founder & President, Wowzi, Kenya
    Moderator: Ms. Mariam K. A-Buahin – Chief Operating Officer, Akuna Group, Ghana

  • 16:15 PM – 17:00 PM

    Inspiring Global Attraction: Exploiting African films, music, fashion, and culture to bolster Brand Africa’s soft power in the global marketplace.

    Panelists:
    - Mr. Melchy Obiang – Film Director and Screen Writer, Gabon
    - Mr. Xavier Edwards – Artist, Trinidad and Tobago
    - Mr. Joel 'Kachi Benson – Emmy Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker / VR Creator, Nigeria
    - Mr. Kevin Okeya – Co-founder & CEO, Mediakits.io, Kenya

    Moderator: Mr. Sam Larra – Programs Lead, 24-hour Economy Secretariat, Ghana

  • 19:00 PM – 22:00 PM

    Film Screenings

  • 09:00 AM – 09:15 AM

    Creative / Cultural / Musical Performance

  • 09:15 AM – 10:30 AM

    Panel: Facilitating Mobility for Tourism, Cultural and Creatives Professionals

    Panelists:
    - Mr. Jermaine Tumelo Besten – CEO, WWP Group, South Africa
    - Ms. Keitumetse Setlang – CEO, Botswana Tourism Organisation
    - Mr. Olayiwola Awakan – Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA)
    - Mr. Frank Murangwa – Regional Director: Africa, ICCA – International Congress and Convention Association, Rwanda
    - Ms. Maame Afua Houadjeto – CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority
    - Mr. Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa – CEO, Tourism Business Council South Africa & Interim Chairperson, Africa Tourism Private Sector Alliance

    Moderator: Prof. Kobby Mensah – CEO, Ghana Tourism Development Company

  • 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

    Registration and Accreditation of participants

    Panel: Financing Africa’s Creative Businesses (Film, Music, Fashion) Revolution

    Panelists:
    - Mr. Felix Chege – CEO, Real Sources Africa and AfCFTA Trading Company, Kenya
    - Mr. Simon Madjie – CEO, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre
    - Mr. Ivan Quashigah – Board Chairman, National Film Authority, Ghana
    - Ms. Ana Ballo – Filmmaker and Director, RTI Distribution, Côte d’Ivoire
    - Ms. Zodwa Msimang Kansibande – Founder & Creative Director, Zulu Madame, South Africa

    Moderator: Ms. Laura Ekumbo – Co-Director, LAM Sisterhood, Kenya

  • 10:30 AM – 10:45 AM

    Tea Break & Film Screen

  • 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM

    Panel: Digital Transformation – Embracing the potential of AI, virtual reality, streaming platforms, and the gig economy.

    Panelists:
    - Ms. JudySheila N. Mugo – Director of Content Pulse, East Africa
    - Ms. Margareth Geddy – Tanzanian television journalist and wildlife filmmaker, Tanzania
    - Ms. Chadzanso Mwenda – International Actress and Film Distributor, Zambia
    - Mr. Taye Balogun – Founder, The NGO International Film & Knowledge Forum, Kenya
    - Mr. Jiire Smith – Artist & Young Talent, Nigeria / Abu Dhabi
    - Mr. Kevin Okeya – Co-founder & CEO, Mediakits.io, Kenya

    Moderator:
    Mr. Boniface Mwalii – Chairman, Entertainment & Arts Journalist Association of Kenya

  • 12:20 PM – 14:20 PM

    Creatives Connect Afrika Fashion Runway.

  • 14:30 PM – 14:45 PM

    Presentations of Outcomes, Call to Action, and Closing Remarks

    Speakers:
    - Mr. Rex Omar – Coordinator, Black Star Experience, Ghana
    - Ms. Emily Mburu-Ndoria – Director of Trade in Services, Investment, Intellectual Property Rights & Digital Trade (DTIID), AfCFTA Secretariat, Ghana

  • 14:45 PM – 15:00 PM

    Networking Lunch, Business-to-Business, and Matchmaking Sessions

  • 19:00 PM – 23:00 PM

    Cultural Night & Musical Festival (Traditional Attire)

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