AAG Pays Tribute at Jubilee House: Honoring the Eight Fallen Heroes from the Helicopter Crash

The Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) joined the nation in mourning the tragic loss of the eight officials who died in the line of duty in relation to combating illegal mining (galamsey). Led by AAG President Andrew Ackah, the AAG Council together with other top-ranking members of the association paid a condolence visit to Jubilee House to commiserate with the bereaved families and the government.

Speaking during the visit, Mr. Andrew Ackah described the passing of the eight as a devastating loss that touched not only government but the entire country. He pledged the Association’s support in honoring the memory of the fallen heroes and amplifying the need for the country to step up the fight against illegal mining practices. Mr. Andrew highlighted the broader dangers of galamsey, including environmental degradation, water pollution, deforestation, and mercury contamination, all of which threaten both the environment and public health.

Echo House Secures Pan-African Partnership with Johnnie Walker

As a proud platinum member of the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG), EchoHouse continues to raise the bar for African creativity. The agency has been appointed Johnnie Walker’s digital and creative agency across Southern, Western, and Central Africa, marking a significant milestone for the Ghana-based 360 marketing powerhouse.

This partnership highlights Echo House’s ability to deliver culturally relevant, innovative, and high-impact campaigns on a Pan-African scale. From strategic insights to cutting-edge creative execution, Echo House exemplifies how African agencies can compete globally while staying true to local narratives.

EchoHouse’s achievement is a testament to the growing strength in creativity, and influence of African marketing and advertising. EchoHouse was one of the three platinum award winners during the 2025 Gong Gong awards.

To read the details of this partnership

Click Here

AAG Expands Its Influence in the Outdoor Advertising Management Space

The outdoor sector is a key part of the advertising industry in Ghana, generating between $60 million USD per year, according to 6W Research. This figure covering static billboards, digital billboards, transit advertising, etc., contributes over 20% of the total advertising spend (including broadcast, print, and digital). Traditionally, the leading agencies in this sector are predominantly members of the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG). However, in recent years, there has been some level of ‘insurgency’ of non-AAG members and players from the local assemblies themselves who have turned the sector into a complete jungle across Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, Koforidua, and other cities in Ghana.

The ‘jungle’ and free-for-all situation has been largely due to the lack of enforcement of the existing outdoor advertising specifications developed by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), together with the AAG itself years back. Apart from the advertising specifications developed by the GSA, there are no proper statutes or regulatory frameworks to manage the mess being created in the outdoor advertising sector.

However, the new Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority, Abraham Amaliba, seems to have introduced some level of urgency to sanitize the system, with footprints of cleaning up the billboard mess within Accra for road safety purposes. Seeing the new zeal of the National Road Safety Authority, the Advertising Association of Ghana has joined forces with the authority to form a joint technical team that would advise the NRSA on both business-conducive and enduring ways to clean up the sector.

On top of its partnership with the National Road Safety Authority, the Advertising Association of Ghana has also formed joint-technical teams with some assemblies within Accra, including the Korley-Klottey Municipal Assembly, the Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly, and the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly, to specifically manage and sanitize the outdoor advertising environments within those assemblies. These efforts by the AAG are meant to assist in ensuring that the recent moves by the government to bring sanity into Ghana’s outdoor advertising space become successful, beginning from the capital city, Accra.

Cannes Lions Introduces Creative Country of the Year Award

At the 2025 Cannes Lions festival in France, a new award was launched called the Creative Country of the Year. The Creative Country of the Year is an experiential initiative that spotlights the brilliance of a country’s creative output at the world’s biggest celebration of history-making creativity. It is an annual accolade that recognises one nation’s exceptional and enduring commitment to creativity that drives progress.

The new award’s mission is to provide a significant growth platform for the chosen country, supercharging its creative economy on an international stage. It delivers the truly global experience our delegates want from their time at Cannes Lions by providing meaningful insight into creativity and culture from different corners of the world.

Why This Matters:

Countries and governments that invest in creativity and the broader creative industries have seen measurable economic and social benefits. Here’s a look at the stats:

  • Creative industries are among the world’s fastest-growing sectors, with the creative economy currently being valued at approximately $2.3 trillion globally.
  • The creative economy has a powerful multiplier effect: $1 spent creates $2.5 of wealth for the broader economy.
  • Creative industries account for nearly 50 million jobs worldwide. UNESCO estimates that the cultural and creative industries account for 6.2% of global employment Plus, countries that invest in creativity see the impact beyond traditional economic measures, including:
  • Driving cultural evolution and social change
  • Integrating with education, healthcare, and urban development
  • Elevating storytelling and amplifying underrepresented voices
  • Contributing to innovation across multiple sectors.

Who Can Apply?

Anyone can apply on behalf of a country for Creative Country of the Year. Ideally, it is meant for government agencies, industry associations or private sector organisations who can spearhead the project and bring the activation to life, recruiting the relevant partners to accurately represent their market.

How Do You Select Who Receives the Accolade?

The Creative Country of the Year is selected through a comprehensive evaluation process that considers:

  • Creative excellence demonstrated through international recognition
  • Measurable economic growth driven by creative industries
  • Global influence through innovative ideas and approaches.

When a single country shows an exceptional and enduring commitment to creativity, it invariably drives progress and growth. This is what is being celebrated through the Creative Country of the Year accolade.

Has your country made an exceptional contribution to the creative industry? This is your moment to have it recognised on the global stage at Cannes Lions 2026.

 

Gong Gong Awards Takes Center Stage Again

After a two-year hiatus, the Gong Gong Festival of Creativity & Awards returned in full glory — reaffirming its status as Ghana’s most prestigious celebration of advertising excellence. The event, which had been paused to restructure its relevance and alignment with global advertising standards, came back with amplified energy, elevated standards, and unforgettable moments that electrified the industry.

This year’s awards event was the 17th edition. It was held on Saturday, 28th June 2025 at the stunning Adesa Pavilion of the Labadi Beach Hotel, and brought together the finest in advertising, marketing, media, and creative enterprise. The night was broadcast live on TV3 and across Media General’s digital platforms, reaching thousands of viewers across the country.

The evening kicked off with a glamorous red-carpet experience at 6:00 p.m., where agency heads, creatives, influencers, and media personalities showcased their best looks. The red-carpet buzz continued long after the last award was handed out, with attendees networking and celebrating well into the night.

This year’s celebration received over 250 entries from scores of advertising agencies, signaling the depth and diversity of Ghana’s advertising landscape. A total of 80 awards were presented across 16 main categories, covering everything from Best Integrated Campaign to Creative Use of Digital, Media Strategy, Outdoor, TV Commercials, and PR Activation. The robust judging process upheld the highest standards of evaluation, ensuring the awards truly reflected excellence, innovation, and effectiveness.

As if the creative competition wasn’t thrilling enough, the awards night was punctuated by electric performances from two of Ghana’s top-tier hiplife sensations — Amerado and Fameye. Their stagecraft, lyrical artistry, and energy had the entire industry on its feet, dancing and singing along in a beautiful fusion of music and marketing

.

Another key highlight of the 17th Gong Gong awards is a new partnership between AAG and Media General, operators of TV3, 3FM, Onua TV, and Onua FM. This landmark agreement will see increased collaboration in media content creation, capacity building, and expanded coverage of AAG-led initiatives in respect of the Gong Gong Festival of Creativity & Awards.

The event was more than a night of trophies — it was a cultural and industry statement. In the week that followed, news of the Gong Gong Awards dominated airwaves and social media, trending across platforms and reigniting national interest in the power and potential of advertising in Ghana.

The 17th Gong Gong Awards was not just a comeback — it was a powerful reminder that creativity, when celebrated, moves industries and inspires nations.

Publicis, EchoHouse, and Others Sweep Awards at the17th Gong Gong Festival of Creativity & Awards

The 17th Gong Gong Festival of Creativity & Awards, by the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG), climaxed on Saturday, June 28th, 2025. The entire festival of creativity and awards was more than an award ceremony — it was a celebration of ideas, culture, and bold industry impact. The Gong Gong festival began with an inter-agency fun game that ramped up a lot of excitement and energy across the industry, and it climaxed with the awards dinner night at the Adesa Pavilion of Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra. The awards dinner night brought together Ghana’s top advertising and media minds, culminating in high recognitions for agencies like Publicis Ghana, EchoHouse Insel Communications, Ogilvy, Rezultz Advertising, Innova DBB, Pulse Ghana, Primetime, EXP, and a host of others.

Publicis West Africa, EchoHouse, and EXP Ghana, which won the three available platinum awards for the year. From the red carpet glam to groundbreaking campaign showcases, this year’s Gong Gong Awards set a clear standard for creativity and excellence in the industry.

  1. Creative Brilliance was on Full Display as Publicis Ghana was crowned Creative Agency of the Year, taking home a whopping 16 awards, including: 1 Platinum,7 Gold, 6 Silver, and 2 Bronze. Their performance showed that data-led creativity and culturally aligned messaging are still effective tools for advertising.  
  2. Media Innovation Mattered More Than Ever- and EchoHouse won the grand prix in that sector as they were awarded Media Agency of the Year, and walked away with 11 awards, including 1 Platinum, 2 Gold, 5 Silver, and 3 Bronze. Their youthful, culturally-driven content strategies continue to shape the next wave of media consumption in Ghana.
  3. Experiential is evolving and highly competitive, but EXP Ghana took home the Experiential Agency of the Year title, highlighting the growing demand for immersive, real-world brand experiences that go beyond screen-based storytelling.

Moments That Defined the Night

To truly understand the vibe of the night, a photo gallery says it all. From the stunning setup to the proud smiles of winners holding their trophies, each image captured the energy and pride of the industry.

 

[https://manuelphotographytm.pixieset.com/gonggongawards2025/#

 

Every year brings something new — this time, it was the clear shift towards performance-based recognition. Agencies weren’t just awarded for creativity, but for results, impact, and message clarity. It marked a turning point for how success is measured in the industry.

The stage design and production also raised the bar, showing that even local events can deliver world-class presentations. Events like this don’t happen in isolation. AAG extends its gratitude to all the sponsors, supporting brands, production teams, jury panel, and agencies who made the event what it was. Your contributions made this a night to remember — and a night that will inspire many more.

What This Means for Ghana’s Creative Industry

The 17th Gong Gong Awards reminded us that Ghana’s advertising industry is not just surviving — it’s thriving. With the rise of young talent, expanding digital platforms, and conversations around tech like AI in advertising, the future is full of promise.

Events like these are more than celebrations; they’re milestones that inspire future greatness.

The Gong Gong Awards continue to be more than just trophies — they are a mirror of how far we’ve come, and a light for where we’re headed. Here’s to pushing boundaries, telling better stories, and building an industry rooted in creativity, excellence, and collaboration.

Ministry of Trade Ready to Push the Advertising Bill

 

We were honored to have Honourable Sampson Ahi, the Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, attend the 2025 Gong Gong Festival of Creativity & Awards, where he not only graced the event as Special Guest of Honour but also delivered an inspiring keynote address. While speaking on the significance of the event, Honourable Ahi emphasized the critical role of advertising in national development, urging the sector to continue driving innovation, creativity, and economic growth. He celebrated the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) for creating a platform that recognizes and encourages creative excellence.    

 

 

The Advertising Bill: A Step Toward Industry Regulation

In his address, the Honourable Minister also shared exciting news about the reintroduction of the Advertising Bill to Parliament, a step that will solidify ethical standards and regulate advertising practices in Ghana. He highlighted the bill’s potential to protect consumers, level the playing field for all practitioners, and ensure a more professional and structured sector.“This legislation will sanitise the advertising space, protect consumers, and create a level playing field for all practitioners,” Honourable Ahi stated

Advertising as a Key Economic Driver

Honourable Ahi also spoke about how advertising plays an instrumental role in driving economic growth, generating over GHS 2.5 billion annually for Ghana’s GDP. The sector fuels industries like agriculture, fintech, health, and manufacturing by engaging consumers and building brands.

“Advertising is a lifeline for thousands of young Ghanaians seeking careers in creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” he added.

A Call to Disrupt and Inspire

The 2025 Gong Gong Festival, with the theme “Disrupt & Inspire: Recognising Brands and Agencies That Challenge Norms and Redefine Creativity,” celebrated the country’s advertising innovators. Honourable Ahi’s call for a future focused on innovation, ethical storytelling, and strategic collaboration resonated with all in attendance, encouraging them to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity.

Professional Training on Using AI & AI Tools to Enhance Functional Effectiveness

AAG’s Practical AI Training for Marketers, Advertisers & Creatives

Every marketer, advertiser, or communications professional in Ghana is currently highly aware of the AI buzz and how to make the most of it to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. From agency group chats to trending headlines, AI is the hot topic everyone’s talking about. But between juggling client briefs, hitting deadlines, and chasing KPIs, there’s one big question on every professional’s mind: “How do I use AI in my work?”

Whether you’re crafting campaign strategies, churning out content, or pitching to clients, the reality is this: the marketing world is shifting—and fast, and AI is showing the way to top-notch efficiency and effectiveness. The Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) is stepping into this area to ensure that advertising, marketing, corporate communications, and media professionals benefit from a professional and hands-on AI training experience, built specifically for our industry.

Not the Job-Stealing Kind of AI

Let’s get this straight—this isn’t about robots taking over your job.

And it’s not about drowning in confusing tech jargon.

This is about learning how to work faster, smarter, and more creatively using the power of AI. No coding. No complexity. Just real tools for real marketing needs.

Why This Training Matters

✔️ Built for Ghana’s Marketing Pros

This isn’t another generic tech seminar. It’s been carefully crafted for:

– Brand Managers

– Client Relations
– Creatives
– Media Planning/Strategy & Buying

– PR Planning & Execution
– Digital Strategists
– In-house and agency teams, etc.

No fluff. No theory. Just practical tools you’ll use the following Monday.

✔️ What You’ll Learn:

  • AI & Digital Marketing Fundamentals
  • AI-Powered Content Creation
  • Programmatic Advertising Strategies
  • Branding with AI & Creativity
  • Consumer Insights & Smart Campaigns
  • AI for Customer Experience
  • AI Ethics & Future-Proofing Your Skills

Powered by the Association That Gets It

This training is proudly powered by AAG—the body that understands the Ghanaian advertising landscape in partnership with the globally-recognized AAA Advertising School, South Africa. The instructors are a combination of advertising & marketing academics and professionals from the AAA Advertising School.

Whether you’re an agency exec in Accra or a freelancer in Takoradi, this workshop is designed to give you practical control over AI in your workflow.

Key Info at a Glance

📅 Dates: August 27–29, September 3rd – 5th 2025
💻 Format: Interactive Online Workshop
🕐 Duration: 2-hour sessions daily
👥 Open To: All levels (No tech skills required!)
📞 Register: Call Mr. Woodin—024444 0477
💰 Cost: GHC 2,000 (AAG Members), GHC 3,000 (Non-members) and GHC 1,000 (Students)

Why You Shouldn’t Miss This

– You’re juggling 10 roles at once
– You want to work smarter, not harder
– You’ve heard of AI, but don’t know where to start
– You don’t want to be left behind

– You are deep into AI already but want to move it to another level for more efficient workflow

If you’re still building strategies like it’s 2022, this is your upgrade.

AI isn’t the future—it’s your next brief.

Final Word

This isn’t just a training.
It’s a career accelerator.
A shift from tech overwhelm to confident execution.
AAG is giving you the chance to say:

“I own my AI-powered workflow.”

👉🏾 Claim your seat today.
📞 Call Mr. Woodin on 024 444 0477
📅 Your AI-powered era begins August 27.

From Project Find to Cannes: How Two Young EchoHouse Creatives Made Their Mark

Two rising stars from EchoHouse, Adelaide Baah and Maame Adubea Asante Yeboah, both 22, made significant waves on the global stage last June.

First, the talented young Ghanaians proudly represented Africa at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, a powerful testament to their exceptional talent and EchoHouse’s deep commitment to nurturing emerging creative voices.

Their journey to Cannes is particularly inspiring. Both Adelaide and Maame Adubea joined EchoHouse through Project Find, a groundbreaking recruitment initiative designed by EchoHouse specifically to help recent university graduates transition seamlessly into the workforce and find their footing in the creative industry. Less than a year into their respective careers as National Service Persons, they achieved a rare feat: winning the Cannes Young Lions Africa Digital Competition, which earned them this incredible opportunity to compete globally.

Adele And Maame’s Experience In Cannes

As they immersed themselves in the festival, both Adelaide and Maame Adubea focused on growth. Adelaide aimed to “soak in everything, how the best in the world think, create, and tell stories,” and returned home “with a fresh lens and new energy.” Maame Adubea’s goal was clear: “network, learn from industry thought leaders and win the global competition.”

“My favourite time at Cannes was the awards nights. When the best campaigns got celebrated. I am looking forward to being a part of extremely cool campaigns like that,” Maame Adubea said of her experience in Cannes.

 

“For me, it’s so hard to pick just one, but my absolute favourite parts of the Cannes 2025 trip were definitely the Adobe x Coca-Cola activation, the creativity and tech merge were insane! Then there was the Amazon Port, that entire experience felt like stepping into the future. And of course, the cherry on top was when we travelled to Monaco. It felt like a dream within a dream!” Adele recalled her experience with excitement.

They understand the monumental impact this experience will have. “It’s every creative marketer’s dream to be at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity,” Maame Adubea affirmed. Adelaide believes the opportunity has ignited new confidence, pushing her “to dream bigger and take up more space” and sharpening her “hunger to do even more meaningful work.”

From Project Find to Global Recognition: A Testament to Nurturing Talent

Adelaide and Maame Adubea’s journey at EchoHouse began during their time as National Service Persons. Less than a year into this foundational period of their careers, they found themselves not just learning the ropes, but actively shaping major campaigns. This hands-on immersion was deliberate; EchoHouse’s environment, as Maame Adubea describes, is “involving, educative, hectic, fun and exciting,” consistently pushing individuals to excel. Adelaide, who quickly found her stride on the experiential team, attests that EchoHouse “throws you into the deep end, but in the best way,” fostering a dynamic space that stretched her creatively and sharpened her approach to complex challenges.

This intense, yet supportive, environment proved to be the perfect training ground for their global spotlight at Cannes. Both young women credit the “constant pushing to be the best you can” alongside the “warmth of everyone as family” for providing the bedrock for such an extraordinary opportunity. Their journey exemplifies EchoHouse’s philosophy: that true growth comes not just from theoretical knowledge, but from real-world exposure, consistent mentorship, and the freedom to tackle high-stakes projects from the very start of one’s career.

Beryl Agyekum Ayaaba, CEO of EchoHouse, passionately champions the empowerment of young creatives. Her vision has created an environment where talents like Adelaide and Maame Adubea can truly flourish. “When you have the right mix of people and everybody is willing to pull up their sleeves and get to work, nothing is impossible,” Beryl shared, while highlighting the crucial role of mentorship and creating pathways for young professionals. She also extended gratitude to key brand partners like Johnnie Walker, Pepsodent, Vaseline, Samsung, and Rosa Foundation, whose support made this dream a reality for the duo.

For Maame Adubea, the news of her selection was met with disbelief. “I could not believe it, I was in disbelief,” she shared. Adelaide echoed the sentiment, “It was surreal. I was shocked and super excited. It felt like all the quiet hard work finally made sense.”

A significant pillar in their growth has been the She Unit at EchoHouse, a supportive community for all women within the company, where both Adelaide and Maame Adubea found invaluable mentorship and encouragement.

Their presence at Cannes Lions last June was a living testament to the flourishing landscape of African creativity, the boundless potential of dedicated young talents, and EchoHouse’s commitment to building the future of the industry, starting with initiatives like Project Find – a recruiter platform for National Service.

Cannes Lions Introduces Global Integrity Standards to Define Creative Accountability for a New Era

10 July 2025 – Cannes Lions has announced new integrity standards and measures for its Awards. Following a thorough review, an evolved framework will be introduced to provide a renewed model of accountability, rigour, and trust for creative excellence.

“The industry landscape is changing at lightning speed,” said Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS. “And, in common with the rest of the industry, Cannes Lions is adapting at pace to meet this.”

During Cannes Lions 2025, collective concerns around manipulation, synthetic media and the use of AI resulted in the necessary withdrawal of Lion-winning work. To ensure the continued integrity of all entries into the Festival, Cannes Lions has announced a comprehensive new framework. From 2026 onwards, all entry submissions into the International Festival of Creativity will be subject to new accountability measures and integrity standards, designed not only to safeguard the integrity of the benchmark but to reaffirm the cultural and commercial value of creativity that is real, representative, and responsible.

For over 70 years, Cannes Lions has demonstrated the power that creativity has to drive progress, and the evidence that creativity drives effectiveness and business outcomes is extremely well documented. At Cannes Lions this year, yet more independent analysis proved the link between creativity and business growth. Interbrand presented an independent analysis of the top 50 Lion-winning brands, revealing that creative excellence directly translates into business performance: a 2.7% increase in profitability and 4.7% growth in market capitalisation in the year following a Lion win, outperforming market averages.

Cook continued: “At the heart of the Lions is creativity that drives growth. These renewed standards reflect our responsibility to both provide a platform for and protect the value of creativity, and reinforce that creative excellence should be synonymous with creative integrity.”

THE NEW GLOBAL STANDARD FOR CREATIVE INTEGRITY
The following measures will be implemented across Cannes Lions and associated awards in 2026. All measures will be continually reviewed, given the fast-paced changes underway in the industry:

INTEGRITY STANDARD 1: Ownership and Authorship

Accountability, Partnership, and Permission

Every submission must be approved by the business leader of the entrant company and by a senior marketer from the commissioning brand. These declarations confirm that all submissions, including case films, written submissions, data, and claims, are factually accurate, responsibly sourced, and representative of real world events and outcomes.

INTEGRITY STANDARD 2: Veracity of Claims

Rigorous, Two Tier Fact-Checking System

A new dual-layer verification system will combine manual checks with AI-led analysis to interrogate the veracity of claims made by each entry. This marks the first time a human + AI hybrid infrastructure has been institutionalised across the global awards to bolster existing measures.

Objective, Independent Expertise and Support

Cannes Lions Juries will have access to an objective and independent data and measurement expert at their request, throughout judging, to provide further technical scrutiny across impact claims, campaign effectiveness, media impact, and data interpretation.

AI Integrity Handbook

The AI Integrity Handbook will set a global standard for awards integrity in the age of AI, protecting trust, creative legitimacy, and transparency. It will outline what is acceptable, what must be disclosed, and what constitutes a breach. This clear and replicable model* is designed for the use of entrants, jurors, and stakeholders, and encouraged for adoption across the industry.

*Informed by OECD AI Principles, Partnership on AI – Synthetic Media Guidelines, and the UNESCO AI Ethics Recommendation.

INTEGRITY STANDARD 3: Consequences of Misrepresentation

Disqualification and Withdrawal

Cannes Lions reserves the right to disqualify or withdraw any awards entry at any stage of submission or judging, including after a Lion has been awarded if material misrepresentation is found. This includes the right to request additional documentation or testimony from entrants or clients at the highest level of seniority.

Sanctions for Deliberate Misconduct

Companies found to have wilfully submitted false or misleading work may be banned from participation for up to 3 years. Jury eligibility may also be revoked. All sanctions will be determined through an independent review process to ensure neutral and objective oversight is prioritised.

 

INTEGRITY STANDARD 4: Due Process & Independent Oversight

Independent Integrity Council and Due Process

All escalated cases will be reviewed by a newly established Integrity Council made up of legal, ethical, and neutral industry experts. Entrants will have the right to respond and appeal within a reasonable timeframe.

INTEGRITY STANDARD 5: Transparency in Governance

Annual Creative Benchmark Integrity Audit

To ensure transparency, Cannes Lions will publish an annual Integrity Audit documenting an overview of concerns that lead to continuous improvements to the system that underpins the global benchmark for creativity.

“Creativity is only valuable if it’s credible,” Cook added. “And credibility must be earned, not assumed. These timely changes mark the beginning of a new era for us all, not just for Cannes Lions, but for the future state of global creative marketing.”