The Blackstar Experience Secretariat (BSE) under the Office of the Presidency, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Arts Council of South Africa (NACSA) in August 2025.
The agreement is expected to create new opportunities for collaboration, training, and performances within the creative industries for both countries.
MoU with South Africa is a smart step for Ghana’s creative industry – Robert Klah
The signing of the agreement
The signing of the MoU took place at NACSA’s headquarters in Johannesburg.
The Ghanaian delegation was led by the Chief Executive Officer of the Black Star Experience Secretariat, Rex Owusu Marfo, popularly known as Rex Omar. He signed the agreement on behalf of Ghana, while South Africa was represented by Julie Diphofa, Acting CEO of NACSA.
What the partnership means
The MoU covers a wide range of areas in the creative economy.
It is designed to encourage creative exchange programmes, support the preservation of heritage, and establish collaborations in arts education.
Ghana-South Africa MoU will benefit both nations – Rex Omar on creative industry
It will also allow for residencies, internships, institutional exchanges, and joint research and development projects.
Importantly, the agreement is not restricted to music alone. It stretches into fashion, film, photography, comedy, visual arts, and exhibitions.
Platforms that will be shared
One of the catchy parts of the deal is the exchange of platforms.
South African creatives will now be able to take part in some of the biggest events in Ghana, such as Creatives Connect Afrika, Afro Future, Tidal Rave Ghana, Beyond the Return, and the Telecel Ghana Music Awards.
Ghanaian creatives will also perform on South Africa’s stages. Events like the South African Music Awards (SAMA) will soon welcome Ghanaian creatives.
What leaders have said about the MoU signed
At the signing, NACSA’s Acting CEO Julie Diphofa, described the agreement as a milestone for Africa’s cultural ecosystem.
“As two leading nations in arts and culture, we are proud to join hands with Ghana to strengthen cultural diplomacy and enhance opportunities for creatives on the continent,” she said.
National Coordinator of the Blackstar Experience Secretariat, Rex Omar, also mentioned that the MoU is designed to be mutually beneficial.
In an interview with Hitz FM, he explained that the goal is to ensure fairness in how both sides benefit from the arrangement.
“This MOU should be a win-win situation. It should balance; we can’t have only Ghanaians benefiting from South Africa while the South Africans are not benefiting from here. So, we have selected some of our major platforms so as to be able to also bring South African products,” he noted.
He went further to say that the Ghana Music Awards is one of the key platforms where this exchange will be visible.
“Ghana music award is something that we as Black Star Experience will go and discuss with them so that every year if the music award is coming, we will organise for South African artistes to come and perform. So as to be able to give them the Ghanaian platform to also exhibit their talent,” he explained.
Rex Omar also noted that the agreement was made to go beyond music, touching every area of the creative space.
“So, it’s a win-win situation as we export our artistes, they will also export their artistes. It’s not only on music also fashion, also movies. Everything is involved including exhibitions with photo exhibitions and everything that has to do with the creative economy,” he added.
Why the MoU is important
This MoU gives creatives a structured way to reach international audiences.
The partnership also focuses on training, knowledge-sharing, and building stronger industries that can sustain creatives in the long run.
This agreement means more opportunities, more visibility, and more collaborations for Ghanaian and South African creatives.
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