Ghana creative economy program brings S.W.A.T. creator to Accra
Aaron Rahsaan Thomas, Paul Garnes and other industry figures are joining the first Ghana Creative Economy Initiative in Accra this month.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Accra is getting a concentrated hit of screen-industry muscle this month, with S.W.A.T. creator Aaron Rahsaan Thomas and producer Paul Garnes among the names attached to the first Ghana Creative Economy Initiative.
The 2026 program was developed and curated by Dorina Amina Abubakar, a Ghanaian-British producer, film programmer and creative industries strategist. Abubakar also serves as program director of African Creative TV at USC.
The initiative is built around three parts: a directing lab for producer-director teams from across Africa, free public masterclasses for Ghanaian creatives, and a Creative Economy Summit bringing together industry figures, investors and policymakers.
A 10-day directing lab
The Directing Lab began July 14 and is scheduled to run through July 23. Organizers said the cohort includes eight producer-director teams from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, with credits across Netflix, Showmax and Amazon Prime Video projects.
The workshop is being led by veteran TV director Rachel Raimist and Thomas. Raimist’s credits include Elsbeth, Bel-Air, Queen Sugar, CSI: Vegas and Fantasy Island, while Thomas is best known as the creator of the CBS drama S.W.A.T.
The listed Directing Lab participants are Nicole Amarteifio, Maame Adjei, Princess Nkrumah, Gene Adu, Judith Audu, Uyoyou Adia, Adeniyi Joseph Omobulejo, Precious Okpala, Brian Munene, Likarion Wainaina, Mkamzee Mwatela, Louiza Wanjiku, Phuthi Nakene, Vivek Mehta, Nomusa Nzima and Athi Petela.
Free classes across Accra
The public masterclass strand runs July 20 to 24 at several Accra venues, including Google Accra, Silverbird Cinemas, Akuna Pod, the American Spaces Library and the Local Community Engagement program.
Organizers said those sessions will cover development, pitching, packaging, micro-dramas, mobile cinema and routes to market. The masterclasses are being led by Quan Phung, Garnes and Sidra Smith. Garnes is a longtime producer for Ava DuVernay and is also associated with Origin.
The program’s central event, the Creative Economy Summit, is set for July 22 at Google Accra. The summit will gather filmmakers, investors, technology companies, corporate leaders, policymakers and cultural institutions to look at the role of storytelling, digital tools and investment in Ghana’s creative sector.
Backers and partners
Participating and supporting organizations named for the initiative include Google, Akuna Group, Multichoice, MTN, Afrofuture, The Blackstar Experience, Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana’s National Film Authority and Global Media Alliance. Sahihi Africa, led by Becky Muikia, is serving as an implementing partner.
Abubakar said in a statement that Africa is producing “extraordinary creative talent,” while the next phase of growth depends on stronger professional networks, competitive projects and better links to investment and international collaboration.
She said Ghana has the ingredients to become a leading creative economy hub, and described the initiative as a platform for longer-term collaboration between global experts and African creators, industry leaders, technology companies, investors and institutions.
“We want creatives to leave not only inspired, but better connected, better equipped and better positioned to compete on the global stage,” Abubakar said.
This story draws on original reporting from Deadline.