Sierra Leone and Kenya have signed Statements of Intent with cross-border technology and media firm, The Akuna Group at CHOGM 2026 to launch the Commonwealth Creative Economy Partnership aimed at connecting regional creators with skills, funding, and international markets. The initiative comes as Akuna expands its digital finance footprint across West Africa. Sir Idris Elba, Chairman of The Akuna Group, and Dr A. Korir Sing’Oei, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, display the signed Statement of Intent for the Commonwealth Creative Economy Partnership at CHOGM 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda In January 2026, subsidiary Akuna Wallet Ltd, was admitted into the Bank of Ghana’s regulatory sandbox for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) enabling the firm to test supervised digital asset tools to streamline cross-border payments for African creators.

The Stellar-powered platform aims to cut the more than 8% fees African creators lose on cross-border earnings, starting with Bank of Ghana oversight.

 

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The signing ceremony featured

  • Sierra Leone Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh,

  • Kenya Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. A. Korir Sing’Oei,

and

  • Akuna Chairman, Sir Idris Elba,

alongside

  • Sierra Leone President, Julius Maada Bio.

 

Sir Idris Elba and Dr David Moinina Sengeh, Chief Minister of the Republic of Sierra Leone, display the signed Statement of Intent between The Akuna Group and Sierra Leone at the Akuna Moment of Engagement

 

Speaking at One Commonwealth Night, Sir Idris Elba, Chairman of The Akuna Group, said:

“And that’s really what we’re trying to do through Akuna.

Bring people together, build those connections, and help turn creativity into opportunity, so more people can make a living from their talent and own what they create.”

 

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For Sierra Leone, the agreement aligns with President Bio’s human capital agenda. Chief Minister Sengeh said:

“Our young people are not a problem to be managed; they are the resource to invest in.”

 

In Kenya, the collaboration complements Talanta Hela. Dr Sing’Oei said it would give “youth creative enterprises a route to market.”

 

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Akuna is also rolling out a $1 million Google.org-backed AI film training program across

  • Ghana,

  • Kenya,

  • Nigeria,

  • Sierra Leone, and

  • South Africa,

while holding discussions with Caribbean and U.K leaders on cross-border creator monetization and vocational pathways.

 

 

Sir Idris Elba, Chairman of The Akuna Group, said:

“For me, this is about learning.

This is about access to courses that help educate creators across the continent to tell their stories. Through Akuna Learning, we’re partnering with Google and Curious Refuge on ‘From Script to Screen with AI’, a remarkable training and mentorship programme teaching African filmmakers to use AI tools. Selected projects will receive production funding, and creators will retain control of their work.

I’m looking forward to seeing the stories they choose, and how the education leads to employment and self-momentum, but helps shape the narrative of Africa.”

 

 

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