Bombo Investments joins Africa Monologue Challenge to turn AfCFTA vision into action | Ghanaguardian. com
Accra, 2 August – Pan-African trade and investment advisory firm Bombo Investments has partnered the Africa Monologue Challenge (AMC) in a move aimed at converting years of advocacy for intra-African trade into practical commercial opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The collaboration will combine Bombo Investments’ expertise in structured trade and investment
Accra, 2 August – Pan-African trade and investment advisory firm Bombo Investments has partnered the Africa Monologue Challenge (AMC) in a move aimed at converting years of advocacy for intra-African trade into practical commercial opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The collaboration will combine Bombo Investments’ expertise in structured trade and investment with AMC’s creative platform, which reaches more than 25 countries across Africa and the diaspora. AMC Season 3, scheduled to take place in Ghana in September 2026, will provide the first major platform for the partnership. The Africa Monologue Challenge was co-founded by MK Casting and the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP). It promotes the idea of a united African creative economy telling African stories from an African perspective, while strengthening Brand Africa internationally. Since the competition began, each AMC season has used storytelling to promote intra-African trade and tourism and to present a positive image of the continent. Its central feature is the Pan-African House, a month-long residency where 12 finalists from different African countries live, work and create together. The residency is designed to encourage cultural exchange. Participants tour the host country, meet local communities and develop relationships through shared experiences. Organisers say meaningful trust cannot be created remotely, but must be built through people meeting, visiting and spending time with one another. The finalists for the latest season will represent Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Botswana, the Republic of Congo, Benin, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and the African diaspora in the United States. They have explored Pan-Africanism through AMC monologue prompts and will collaborate on Pan-African content produced by the stakeholders. Roger Quartey, chief executive of Bombo Investments, brings extensive experience in media, branding and production to the partnership. He has appeared in or contributed to more than 100 films and commercials and is also CEO of Roger-Q productions, Head of Production for UTV and Chairman of the Media and Cultural Sector of the African Chamber of Content Producers. “I have spent my career at the intersection of media, brand building, and storytelling,” said Mr. Quartey. “I know firsthand that the creative economy is a powerful engine for economic growth and continental integration. By partnering with the Africa Monologue Challenge, Bombo Investments is committing to move the intra-African trade advocacy that AMC has championed for years into a tangible, actionable trade agenda guided by AfCFTA protocols. ”Bombo Investments is developing strategies to make it easier for African brands to enter markets in other countries. The company is also seeking to reduce the structural barriers that have traditionally restricted the movement of goods, services and capital across the continent. Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, President of the African Chamber of Content Producers, said the agreement marked an important development in the Chamber’s long-term effort to use the creative economy to promote intra-African trade. “We are very excited to tap into the expertise of Chairman Roger Quartey in fronting the AMC’s intra-African trade agenda,” said Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin. “This is something the Chamber has been championing for several years, and we believe it will be beneficial to all Africans and the world at large. The creative economy is Africa’s soft power, and when we align it with structured trade and investment frameworks, we unlock unprecedented opportunities for our people. ”He added that the Chamber was speaking with other members across Africa about working with Roger Quartey and Bombo Investments to meet the partnership’s objectives. “Bombo Investments has already started engaging with African brands to see how we can practicalise intra-African trade,” he added. “This is moving the talk into practical action. ”Mawuko Kuadzi, CEO of MK Casting and one of the architects of AMC, said the creative sector could have a greater economic impact when it was linked to well-designed trade partnerships. “The Africa Monologue Challenge is not just about discovering talent, but it is also about building a continent where African stories are told by Africans, for the world,” said Kuadzi. “My own rise in the international casting industry has taught me that diligence, professionalism, and strategic partnerships are the foundations of success. As Co-founder and CEO of AMC, I am ready to deploy all available resources and networks to work with Bombo Investments and other partners to ensure the success of our objectives for the interest of Africa and her people. ”Kuadzi is an award-winning international casting director and a member of the Casting Society (CSA) and the International Casting Directors Association (ICDA). He said AMC Season 3 would highlight both Africa’s creative capacity and its commercial potential. The partnership comes as African trade continues to expand, although businesses still face significant obstacles. Diaspora remittances to Africa exceeded $104bn in 2024, while foreign direct investment rose by 75% to $97bn. Intra-African trade reached $220bn as AfCFTA moved from the agreement stage towards implementation. However, regulatory fragmentation, limited access to finance and high logistics costs continue to affect businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. Those companies account for about 80% of employment across Africa and remain the group most exposed to these difficulties. Bombo Investments was established to address those challenges through three integrated divisions: the Incubation Hub, which provides advisory services and risk-shielding; the Growth Chamber, focused on imports, exports and trade logistics; and the Realization Phase, which supports market entry and business expansion. Together, the divisions are intended to provide a single pathway for capital and commerce to move from initial contact through to full market development. AMC Season 3 is returning to Ghana after Season 2 was held in Uganda. The 12 finalists will spend a month at the Pan-African House in Accra before the Grand Finale at the National Theatre in September 2026. Trade-focused activities will be incorporated into the programme, including training for finalists on intra-African trade, structured discussions around AfCFTA protocols and practical routes for brands seeking to enter new markets across the continent.