Accra, April 14, GNA – In a spirited display of pan-African unity and creative excellence, the United States Embassy in Ghana has hosted a delegation from the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP) to celebrate the Artios award win by Ghanaian casting director Mawuko Kuadzi.
This win, marking the first time in 40 years that an African has clinched the award in the commercial casting category, has ignited new hopes for a united African creative front.
Leading the ACCP delegation was Executive Director Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, who explained the mission behind their visit.
“Our goal is to unite Africa’s creative sector and present it as one powerful front to promote positive narratives of Africa, while also cultivating fruitful collaborations with international stakeholders,” he stated.
Nana Dwomoh highlighted the significance of the NFL Super Bowl commercial—cast by Mawuko Kuadzi—as a prime opportunity offered by the United States to showcase that African talent shines on the global stage.
The delegation, which included veteran actor Fred Nii Amugi (with 50 years of experience), veteran actress Mynna Otoo (with over 30 years in the industry), celebrated actor Peter Ritchie, and the award-winning Mawuko Kuadzi himself, was received by Ambassador Virginia E. Palmer and Public Diplomacy Counselor Emily S. Fertik at the embassy.
Ambassador Palmer expressed excitement about the win and the prospects it heralded.
“This is a proud moment for Ghana and a testimony to the innovative spirit of African creatives,” she said. “It opens up even more avenues for collaboration between the United States and Ghana. We are here to support the journey towards a united African creative industry hosted right here in Ghana.”
During the meeting, Mawuko Kuadzi provided an in-depth walkthrough of the casting process for the NFL Super Bowl commercial “Born to Play.
” He recounted how a Nigerian child actor Eldad Osime, discovered after extensive auditions across Africa, secured a role, thereby underscoring the continent’s untapped potential in global storytelling.
Public Diplomacy Counselor Emily S. Fertik echoed these sentiments, remarking, “Ghana’s achievement is not only a win for its creative industry, but also a resounding endorsement of the talent that Africa has to offer. We are excited to explore further collaborations, building bridges between the US and Ghana.”
Veteran actor Fred Amugi, who also featured in the commercial, reflected on his unique career path, noting, “Transitioning from public service to acting has taught me that the creative economy is a powerful tool for uniting cultures. My experiences have brought me together with diverse talents, including many from across the globe.”
Veteran actress Mynna Otoo shared her personal journey on the project, highlighting the dedication and passion that went into producing the commercial, while celebrated actor Peter Ritchie elaborated on his
dual career as an actor and insurance consultant—emphasizing that African expertise spans multiple fields and is key to growing the continent’s creative economy.
The team mentioned how the challenges of African talents and the vision ahead gave birth to the Africa Monologue Challenge, an initiative of MK Casting in partnership with the African Chamber of Content Producers and National film authority of Ghana.
The AMC, they disclosed, is a platform to build a stronger African creative economy through trainings, cultural exchanges, conferences, workshops, reality shows, advocacies, and Pan-African Feature films.
The meeting concluded on an optimistic note, as the embassy reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the ACCP’s vision of a pan-African creative economy.
The ACCP delegation expressed gratitude for the warm rreception and pledged to pursue further collaborations with US partners, ensuring that the historic win of Mawuko Kuadzi serves as a platform for an even brighter future for African creativity.
The significance of the event was further articulated on the Embassy’s social media pages, where posts on their Instagram and Facebook pages read:
“Congratulations to Mawuko Kuadzi for winning Best Casting in a Commercial at the 40th Artios Awards, organized by the Casting Society of America. The NFL Super Bowl commercial ‘Born to Play’ was an incredible moment for Ghana and Africa, and he brought together Ghanaian and other African actors in a show of strength for Africa’s creative industry. The work of the African Chamber of Content Producers is an important tool as we look forward to new areas of collaboration and entrepreneurship between US and Ghanaian music, television, and movie industries.”
This celebration marks a milestone not only in advancing Africa’s creative industry on the global stage but also in strengthening the cultural and economic ties between the US and Ghana.
GNA
GRB