Accra, Aug 2, GNA – Ghanaian casting Director and Africa Image Ambassador Mawuko Kuadzi has said his election to the Global Chapter Board of Governors of the Casting Society (CSA) presents a rare opportunity to bridge Africa’s creative economy with global opportunities.
This, he said includes collaborations that could raise the standard of African filmmaking to international levels.
Mawuko Kuadzi, who was elected to the board for the 2026–2027 term, stated in an interview following his appointment that the CSA’s four-decade legacy of identifying top acting talent for Hollywood films and major international productions placed him in a unique position to facilitate partnerships that could transform Africa’s creative landscape.
“The Casting Society has for over forty years been at the forefront of identifying top acting talent for Hollywood films and numerous successful global productions,” Kuadzi said.
“My position on the Global Chapter Board presents a rare opportunity to forge collaborations and partnerships that will grow Africa’s creative economy in ways we have not seen before.”
The CSA Global Chapter Board of Governors, formerly the European Chapter, was renamed in recognition of the Society’s expanding presence around the world. The 2026–2027 Global Chapter Board includes Cassandra Han as President, Dave Bennett as Secretary, Sien Josephine Teijssen as Treasurer, and board members Kei Kawamura, Mawuko Kuadzi, and Maria Lainas.
The CSA’s 2026–2027 Board of Directors is led by President Destiny Lilly, with Elizabeth Berra as Secretary, Matthew Glasner as Treasurer, and Meg Morman as VP of Governance.
Mawuko Kuadzi’s election is the latest milestone in a career that has consistently opened doors for African talent. He has already leveraged his CSA network to organise Pan-African Actors Masterclasses in Uganda (2024) and Ghana (2025), with another session planned for September 2026.
These masterclasses provide African actors with training in international casting call practices, enabling them to raise their professional standards to match high international expectations.
“These trainings equip African actors with the skills needed to compete on the global stage,” Kuadzi explained.
“My new role affords me the opportunity to make the work of CSA and casting directors visible across Africa, while connecting qualified African creatives to casting opportunities from CSA members worldwide.”
According to Mawuko Kuadzi, MK Casting is planning a major masterclass in collaboration with the CSA and the International Casting Directors Association (ICDA) during the Africa Monologue Challenge Season 3 in Ghana this September.
This initiative will bring together international casting professionals to provide African actors and filmmakers with access to global industry expertise and networks.
Mawuko Kuadzi’s commitment to African talent development is well documented.
He is a member of the Casting Society and the International Casting Directors Association (ICDA), where her served on the board in the 2025/2026 term.
He made history as the first West African accepted as a CSA member and the first African to win the Artios Awards, the casting profession’s highest international honour.
Veteran Ghanaian filmmaker and Chairman of the ACCP’s Media and Culture Sector, Harold Roger Quartey, who hosted a private dinner to celebrate Mawuko Kuadzi’s achievement, said the casting director’s success was earned through years of hard work, consistency, and excellence.
“The high competitive standards expected of international projects and partnerships make it extremely difficult for many Africans with limited technology and equipment to compete on a global level,” Chairman Quartey said.
“It is therefore a significant achievement that Mawuko Kuadzi has reached this level. What is more important is that he is willing to use that opportunity to open doors for those who would never have had the chance to connect to such a high-level network. This is a victory for African cinema.”
During a courtesy call following the announcement of the election, renowned playwright Uncle Ebo White congratulated Mawuko Kuadzi and encouraged him to use his new position positively, adding that he was proud of the person Kuadzi had become. Kuadzi said he had received stage training from Uncle Ebo White before continuing his studies at Eagle Drama College, and expressed appreciation for the discipline the playwright instilled in him.
Mawuko Kuadzi’s election comes at a time when the African creative economy is increasingly recognised as a driver of continental integration.
The Casting Society’s Global Chapter, established to represent casting professionals outside North America, provides a platform for African perspectives in global decision-making.
His role on the board, which includes representation from casting professionals across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, positions him to influence international casting standards and to advocate for greater inclusion of African talent in global productions.
Looking ahead, Mawuko Kuadzi said his focus would be on building sustainable partnerships that benefit creatives at all levels.
“Africa has immense talent, but we have not always had the connections to showcase it on the world stage,” he said. “My election is about what we can achieve together as global creators. The doors are open. Now we must walk through them.”
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba