African leaders in tourism, trade and the creative arts have called for greater collaboration, investment and cross-border partnerships to accelerate the continent’s economic transformation, as the Elevate Africa programme highlighted the importance of African-led initiatives in building a borderless and prosperous Africa.

The event brought together influential personalities, industry leaders and creative professionals to explore opportunities for economic growth, cultural preservation and stronger trade relations across the continent.

Speaking at the programme, Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, emphasised the power of deliberately choosing African products, fashion, food and experiences as a means of strengthening the continent’s economic independence.

“When you make that choice to wear Africa, eat Africa, drink Africa, see Africa, nobody can take the power away from us,” she said.

A major highlight of the programme was the presentation of the Elevate Africa Trade Desk, an independent platform designed to bridge the gap between investment capital and viable business opportunities across Africa.

According to Tonye Rex Idaminabo, Chief Partnerships Officer at Elevate Africa, the Trade Desk is not a trade facilitation institution but an independent hub that connects opportunities, investors, partnerships and businesses to encourage meaningful economic transactions.

“The Elevate Africa Desk is entirely different from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). We are not trade facilitators, but a bridge connecting opportunities, partnerships and businesses across Africa,” Idaminabo explained.

He stressed that the continent's economic progress must not be left exclusively to governments and regional institutions, arguing that individuals, businesses and private-sector organisations all have a responsibility to contribute to Africa's development.

“If any trade conversation is to progress as Africans, we must all put all hands on deck. It is not just about Elevate Africa Trade Network. We want to see everyone creating these platforms of trust where capital can make projects,” he said.

Idaminabo further called for a borderless African economy where businesses and entrepreneurs can trade freely across national boundaries, citing the possibility of a tomato seller in Nairobi supplying customers in Cameroon and businesses in Mauritius transporting their products to North Africa.

Beyond trade and investment, the programme celebrated Africa's cultural heritage and creative economy through the recognition of outstanding African fashion storytellers at the Stories of Rebirth, Threads of Africa 2026 Fashion Film Prize.

The awards recognised creatives whose work contributes to telling African stories through fashion, heritage, culture and design.

Emerging as the overall winner was Adekola Emmanuel, a Nigerian filmmaker and founder of Kolimo Multimedia, a media company based in Nigeria.

Emmanuel received the top prize for his creative contribution to the competition, which brought together filmmakers and creative talents seeking to use fashion film as a medium for cultural storytelling.

Four boys found dead in living room at Wasa Asikuma

Speaking after receiving the award in Accra, Emmanuel explained that he participated in the competition alongside his creative director, Shabalaya Dumash, with the aim of telling a story that extended beyond an individual community to reflect a wider African experience.

He said one of the major motivations behind their film was the need to preserve traditional African fabrics and prevent cultural knowledge from disappearing.

The film highlighted Agisidi, a traditional fabric associated with the Bami community in Abuja, Nigeria, which Emmanuel described as being at risk of extinction.

According to him, only one person, an 80-year-old craftsman, currently produces the fabric, raising concerns about the possible loss of the traditional craft if the knowledge is not preserved and passed on to future generations.

“If he's lost, we lose that,” Emmanuel said, stressing the importance of documenting and protecting traditional African craftsmanship.

The Stories of Rebirth, Threads of Africa 2026 Fashion Film Prize also recognised other outstanding participants for their creative contributions.

The winners were:

Winner: Adekola Emmanuel.

First Runner-Up: Irene YÉGA Omiunu.

Second Runner-Up: Rebecca Oghenetega Agbragu.

Third Runner-Up: Eyiwaa Agyekumhene.

AM

Inside Ghana’s First 950,000-Barrel Sankofa Oil Shipment | Exclusive Tour



“We Can’t Adapt to This New Road Technology” | Ghanaians React to TRAFFITECH-GH