The new Branche Lounge of the Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra recently hosted the first sitting of the ‘Adventurers in the Diaspora’ series, a social network for creative minds in Ghana. The series will over the period hold  conversations that cover the  role of creativity in Ghana ‘s development agenda, and highlight ‘ shining lights’ working  locally and abroad.

Renowned architect, Joe Osae-Addo , CEO of Constructs LLC and the brains behind the series, believes that the forum would demonstrate that there are people doing great exploits both home and abroad who should share their experiences with other like-minds to find a way forward for the development of Ghana. He commented that, “All the creative professionals need to come together and develop a synergy so we can help Ghana and Africa as a whole. We need to be part of our change, which often has neglected the creative souls amongst us.”

Ghanaian born London-based architect extraordinaire, Kwamina Monney, shared his work experiences with the group comprising artists, photographers, designers, film makers, financial analysts, media practitioners and other creatives.  He shared some of the new approach to architectural designs in terms materials, structures, and creative use of spaces – exploring which new ideas could work in Ghana.

Kwamina Monney became a director of world acclaimed Amanda Levete Architects in 2009, leading a team to redevelop a 1.0 million sq ft media campus for News Corporation. Recent work includes the refurbishment of Conde Nast’s executive floors in London, re-modelling the Rinascente department store in Milan and the complex master planning and redevelopment of a new City Academy in Southwark.

Monney’s interest in craft, colour and the hand-drawn mark derives from his Ghanaian background and time spent working in Malaysia exploring the relationship between nature and technology. He has an honours degree from the Hull School of Architecture where he was nominated for the RIBA President’s Bronze Medal and a double postgraduate degree with distinction in Architecture.

Ghanaian film maker, Leila Djansi also talked briefly about her upcoming psycho-drama, ‘Sinking Sands’.  The trailer for ‘Sinking Sands’ received overwhelming applause and commendation from the members of the forum when the saw it even without the benefit of sound. The psycho-drama tells the tale of a couple, Jimah (Jimmy Jean-Louis) and Pabi (Ama K. Abebrese) in a loving marriage which turns into one of violence and abuse when Jimah becomes disfigured in a domestic accident.

Sinking Sands will premiere at the National Theater November 13. It also stars Yemi Blaq, Akosua Agyepong, Doris Sakitey, and Chris Attoh.