The Pitcher Festival of Creativity, Africa’s premier celebration of innovation in advertising and communications, has entered into a strategic partnership with the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG). This collaboration is designed to strengthen Ghana’s creative industry, expand opportunities for young professionals, and position both organizations as leading voices in Africa’s creative economy transformation.
Speaking on the significance of the partnership, Venus Tawiah, Director of Global Partnerships at AAG, noted: “This partnership is about more than awards and events — it is about building bridges. By connecting Ghana’s creative community with peers across Africa, we are fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation.”
The partnership will create opportunities through initiatives such as the Pitcher Awards, the Young Pitcher Academy, the Young Pitcher Competition, and the Festival Watch Parties in Ghana. The Young Pitcher Academy 2026, Africa’s leading training and competition platform for young professionals in marketing communications, is now open for registration. Running from 9 March to 16 May 2026, the Academy will deliver cross-disciplinary masterclasses with global and African thought leaders, sector-specific sessions for creative, media, PR, and brand professionals, regional watch parties in designated cities, and competitions across seven categories, culminating in winners being announced at the prestigious Pitcher Festival. Open to professionals 30 years old or younger working across Africa, the Academy offers high-impact training, networking with top creative minds, continental recognition, and certificates of participation.
Isaac Cudjoe, Executive Director of AAG, emphasized the importance of this collaboration for Ghana’s creative industry: “We are proud to endorse the Pitcher Festival as a platform that not only recognizes creativity but also nurtures it. For Ghanaian agencies and professionals, this collaboration opens doors to continental recognition and global exposure.”
Entries for the Pitcher Awards 2026 are also open, with Early Bird discounts available until 31 December 2025. New for 2026 is the Care Category, which celebrates creative excellence in health-related communication across Africa and the diaspora. Subcategories include public health, pharmaceuticals, wellness, healthcare services, employee wellbeing, and health equity advocacy. Returning Special Awards include Brand of the Year (national and multinational) and Marketing Company of the Year (national and multinational), recognizing outstanding achievements in shaping Africa’s marketing landscape. The Special Awards also include Agencies of the Year, Networks of the Year and Regional Holding Companies of the Year. Now in its ninth year, the Pitcher Awards remain one of Africa’s most prestigious accolades, judged by distinguished juries from across the continent.
Reflecting on the broader vision, Dr. Nnamdi Ndu, Chairman of Pitcher Festival, stated: “This partnership with the Advertising Association of Ghana is a milestone in our mission to unite Africa’s creative voices. By working together, we can amplify Ghana’s role in the continental creative economy, empower young professionals, and showcase the transformative power of African creativity to the world.”
The collaboration between Pitcher Festival and AAG signals a new era of opportunity for Ghanaian and African professionals alike – one that champions learning, recognition, and the collective ambition to place Africa at the forefront of global creative excellence.