Akwaaba is being developed for Rhythms of the Globe by Laurence Singer, who has worked for many years to develop the concept of an entertainment/media company that leverages the most potent marketing opportunities of the 21st Century.

The scope of Laurence’s experience in the entertainment field extends from the packaging of entertainment projects, to organizing and managing studio productions, to producing live concerts with internationally known artists, most recently the Fight Against Malaria Concert held in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations.

Laurence, who has been traveling to Ghana since 1980, was the founder and Chief Operating Officer of Global Beat Media Corporation, a record company that produced and distributed world music. For Global Beat Laurence supervised and directed all aspects of the Company’s operations, encompassing the preparation of business plans, drafting and negotiating contracts, graphic design and corporate identity, selection of artists, coordination of production projects, and implementation of marketing and promotion strategies. Distribution networks were established in the United States, Europe, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and in India with Times Music.

Global Beat also signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Warner Chappell, and its productions were reviewed around the world, including features on CNN ShowBiz and National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered”. Symbiose, Global Beat’s first release, combined African music with a modern musical format that Tower Pulse Magazine hailed as “part of a new Afro-European movement that may be creating the dominant pop sound of the 21st Century … a sound may be the future of international pop.”

Abdulai Awusu is one of Ghana’s leading directors. Abdulai graduated from the National Film and Television Institute in 1996. He taught for a year in the scriptwriting and in the directing department before joining Film Africa Ltd. as the Head of Production. In July 2006 Abdulai became the Creative Director of an independent film production company 1957 Productions. Years of working in the film and advertising industries has given Abdulai a wealth of knowledge and access to a pool of talent who collaborate with him to produce a wide range of works. His versatility is evident from his award winning feature and documentary films, television commercials, and music videos.

The editor is Georgia Hilton who has a 25 years history in Film, Broadcast, Music & Technology, including audio technology, video systems, studio design and implementation, submarine communications & acoustics, international network design, systems design/implementation. She has been an audio/video editor and producer for 15 years. Georgia has extensive credits in both picture editing and audio editing, including sound design, mix and print-mastering, feature length, short format film editing, and broadcast related projects. Georgia is the founder of World Wide Audio.

Panji Anoff is the music coordinator. Panji is a music producer and video director who has spent a great deal of time in Europe and the United States perfecting his musical skills to become one of the leading exponents of African music. He developed the new musical direction of Hip Life in Ghana, and his recent release of King Ayisoba’s Modern Ghanaians garnered three Ghana music awards: Discovery of the Year, Traditional Song of the Year, and Most Popular Song of the Year in 2006.

Edward and Ernest Boateng are the principals of Global Media Alliance based in Accra. Their experience in media, marketing and pubic relations across Arica represent a valuable resource for Akwaaba.

Richard L Gant is the Principal of the The RL Gant Group Inc. Its ten years experience in sports, entertainment and media marketing has established RL Gant as a leader in combining traditional media with the new forms of digital media.

Amarteorkor Aamarteifio (Korkor) has extensive experience in the arts, entertainment, and production. Korkor presently is the Director of WorldRhythms, where she is conceptualizing and implementing festivals and events, the Associate Director Institute for Music and Development where she is responsible for training programs and advocacy for the Ghana Cultural Fund and the Micro credit scheme for musicians, and the Director of Theatre Operations and Programmes for the National Theater of Ghana.

Kofi Middleton-Mends is the associate producer. Kofi is the Deputy Director and Dean of Studies of NAFTI. There is no one in Ghana who has more experience in filmmaking, and has more contacts in the film industry in Ghana than Kofi. Kofi also is an actor who has appeared in countless film and television productions. In 2006 Kofi received the 1st Ghana Actors’ Guild Award for the important role he is playing in the growth of NAFTI and the general development of theatre arts, drama and poetry in the performing arts and film industry of Ghana.

Yaw Berko Nuako is the principal screenwriter for Akwaaba. Since 1992 Yaw has been a lecturer in scriptwriting and directing at Ghana's National Film and Television Institute. He has a Masters degree in scriptwriting and film production from the University of Westminster in the U.K., and has participated in professional courses and workshops in France, Germany, and Italy. Yaw has written and directed documentaries, short features, and children’s stories for television.

Timothy Aaron-Styles revised the script and is co-screenwriter. Timothy has more than 20 years in media and entertainment includes stints at CNN Headline News and the world renown jazz radio station WCLK radio station in Atlanta where he interviewed artists including Herbie Hancock, Leon Thomas, Patrice Rushen, Branford Marsalis, Max Roach, and Ramsey Lewis. As a screenwriter, he has written several screenplays including “Dances Mercedes Do!” which was selected to be read as part of the prestigious Fifth Night Screenplay Reading Series at the NuYorican Poetry Café in New York. Has worked in film in Atlanta and New York in casting, as well as a line producer, production manager and first AD.

Matthew Ethan Davis (coscreenwriter). Matthew received his MFA & BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Dramatic Writing Program, where he was a Founding Member of The Dean’s Leadership Circle. He now teaches Playwriting and Script Analysis at Marymount Manhattan College. Matthew’s screenplay “The Touch” was a Finalist for Best Comedy, New York Picture Company Awards. He co-wrote “Three Bases”, a family baseball drama, with Michael Sorvino, who is also attached as the star for Matthew’s screenplay “Chronic Love”. Matthew’s play “A Little Class” (Samuel French Semi-Finalist), was produced at The Long Wharf Theatre in their one-act festival, “The Three Minute Hamlet”, a Semi-Finalist at The Network One-Act Competition, NYC, and “A Midlife’s Dream” was published in Plays and Playwrights, 2001. His play “Falling Awake” was produced at Expanded Arts Theatre, in NYC, with box office returns earning a second production.

Michael Caporale, the director of photography has over 30 years experience as a commercial and filmmaker, and owns a state-of-the art postproduction facility. Michael was first Director of Photography to use the VariCam in feature film production, and has lensed seven independent films, including several documentaries, as well as music videos and commercials. He also serves as a consultant to Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems, training directors and camera people on the use of digital cameras, including the staff at National Geographic, and provides independent private training for other corporate clients.

Andrew Rath is a production assistant. Andrew is a producer and director for Right Eye Media and his portfolio includes corporate materials, music videos, TV pilots, web videos, and short films. He has spent time in Ghana and is familiar with Ghanaian music and culture.

Justin Agyei-Mensah is the CEO/Project Director of Project One Ink, the leading website design company in Ghana. Project One Ink is Ghana's premier website design and development company, producing innovative visual creative solutions using the latest available technologies and visual communication tools. Justin was trained in web design in South Africa.

Muriel Stockdale has over 20 years of experience as a costume designer, working for such companies as ABC, NBC and Jim Henson Productions. Muriel also is on the faculty of New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, Graduate Design Department.

Awam Amkpa is the Director of the New York University in Ghana Center and is an advisor and consultant. Himself a filmmaker, Awam has offered to provide a production office in Accra and interns who will serve as production assistants.