Sierra Leone and Kenya have signed Statements of Intent with cross-border technology and media firm The Akuna Group at CHOGM 2026 to establish the Commonwealth Creative Economy Partnership. The initiative aims to connect African creators with funding, skills development, and international markets while expanding access to digital financial services.
The partnership is designed to support creative businesses by improving access to opportunities and addressing payment challenges faced by creators earning income across borders. The development also comes as Akuna expands its digital finance operations in West Africa. In January 2026, its subsidiary, Akuna Wallet Ltd, was admitted into the Bank of Ghana's regulatory sandbox for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). This allows the company to test digital asset solutions under regulatory supervision, with a focus on improving cross-border payments.
Powered by the Stellar blockchain network, the platform aims to reduce the high transaction fees African creators face when receiving international payments, which can exceed 8% of their earnings.
The signing ceremony featured Sierra Leone's Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh; Kenya's Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. A. Korir Sing'Oei; Akuna Group Chairman, Sir Idris Elba; and Sierra Leone's President, Julius Maada Bio. Speaking at One Commonwealth Night, Elba said the initiative was intended to build connections and turn creative talent into economic opportunities while helping creators retain ownership of their work.
In Sierra Leone, the partnership aligns with President Bio's human capital development agenda. Chief Minister Sengeh described young people as a resource to invest in rather than a problem to manage. In Kenya, the collaboration is expected to complement the government's Talanta Hela program by providing creative enterprises with greater access to markets. The agreement brings together creative industry development and blockchain-based financial infrastructure. If implemented, the partnership could provide African creators with improved access to international markets and more efficient ways to receive payments for their work.
