Young creatives must collaborate to strengthen Ghana’s creative industry
By Joyce Ayine
Creative entrepreneur and founder of Verslaaf, Samuel Allotey, has called on professionals in Ghana’s creative and design sectors to collaborate more closely to strengthen the industry, improve opportunities, and ensure fair compensation for young talent.
Speaking on Next Gen Connect on Zed FM, Allotey said young Ghanaians are already producing innovative work but often lack access to the networks and platforms that can amplify their efforts.
“I strongly believe young people in Ghana can do a lot more. It’s just that we don’t have the access. I’ve been fortunate enough to see what’s possible when people have access to some of these opportunities,” he said.
Allotey shared that during a campus tour across five universities, his team encountered students developing projects in agriculture technology, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and animation. “They were doing amazing stuff, but people simply didn’t know about them,” he said. The tour aimed to introduce students to the tech space early while giving visibility to talented innovators.
He also emphasised the need for stronger structures within the creative industry, suggesting a national alliance of design communities. “It would be great to have something like a Ghana Design Alliance where communities come together. That way we can have a stronger voice and even introduce things like pricing control so people are not underpaid,” he said.
Allotey highlighted emerging spaces such as Sandbox and the Google AI Community Center as hubs for collaboration, mentorship, and networking. His own community, the Design Junkies, provides a platform for creatives to share work, receive feedback, and connect with like-minded peers.
Rejecting perceptions about Generation Z being unserious, he said, “I’ve seen enough to know that people are doing amazing things. We grew up with technology and can learn anything online, which shapes how we approach opportunities and build solutions.”
He encouraged institutions and leaders to create opportunities that showcase young talent, noting that access and support are key to unlocking Ghana’s creative potential.
