After another round of judging, the jury—Ama Pomaa, Boakye D. Alpha, Audrey Shipp and Ibrahim Babátúndé Ibrahim—have selected six writers (out of the 14 longlisted) for the New Voices Fiction Contest Shortlist.
The shortlist includes:
A Song Of Thousand Parts — Ahobaa-Kwofie Abigail
Beneath The Embrace Of A Baobab Tree — Papa Mmireku Ohene-Agyekum
Fusion — Ruby Excel
I Won’t Stay — Eric Nii Okai Dormon
In and Out of Accra — Pearl Adjavon
Outside the Photograph — H. Griot
Speaking on the shortlist and the contest, Boakye D. Alpha, Founder and Director of Creatives Project Ghana and a member of this year’s jury, said:
‘The New Voices Fiction Contest continues to affirm the depth of emerging literary talent in Ghana. This year, we received stories that engage with the many ways we experience, understand and interpret our country. Selecting six writers from the 14 longlisted entries was not an easy task, but the process allowed us to recognise stories that stood out to the jury for their literary qualities, their engagement with this year’s theme, and, importantly, the potential of the writers and their developing writing voice—and you can see it in the selected pieces. We call this ‘New Voices’ for a reason. We hope this recognition encourages the shortlisted writers to keep developing their craft and inspires more emerging writers to trust themselves and their voices, to share their stories with the world, and, importantly, to stay away from GenAI tools.’
Meet the shortlisted writers
Ahobaa-Kwofie Abigail — A Song Of Thousand Parts
Abigail is a third-year student at the University of Media, Arts and Communication–Institute of Journalism (UNIMAC-IJ), formerly known as the Ghana Institute of Journalism.
Her interest in reading grew from discovering the ability of words to create unfamiliar worlds. Although she had long put off writing, the New Voices Contest inspired her to move beyond imagining stories and begin putting them on paper. She hopes readers will enjoy her work and is grateful for the opportunity the competition has provided.
Papa Mmireku Ohene-Agyekum — Beneath The Embrace Of A Baobab Tree
Ohene-Agyekum is a Ghanaian multidisciplinary artist who works across prose, poetry and drama. He is the chief executive officer of SO.ult, his creative studio, and is drawn to fiction and poetry shaped by history, mythology and the human condition.
Beyond writing, his creative interests include directing, photography and painting. He also finds inspiration in reading, nature, old films and visits to art galleries.
Ruby Excel — Fusion
Excel, 26, is a Ghanaian teacher whose writing challenges misconceptions about Africa. Her work, primarily literary fiction, explores mental health struggles, the complexities of romantic relationships and questions of identity.
She previously earned recognition for her novel Lyrics to the Colour Red, a political romance that was shortlisted for the 2024 Island Prize. Her inclusion in the New Voices shortlist adds another milestone to her literary journey.
Eric Nii Okai Dormon — I Won’t Stay
Dormon is a 20-year-old Ghanaian writer and Communication Studies student at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
Passionate about storytelling, he enjoys creating narratives that connect with readers. His selection recognises his growing presence among Ghana’s emerging literary voices.
Pearl Adjavon — In and Out of Accra
Adjavon is a 22-year-old emerging Ghanaian writer who lives in Accra with her large family. Her writing focuses on the everyday experiences of young Africans, which she seeks to capture through meaningful stories marked by hope, honesty and humour.
She hopes to publish full-length novels in the future, with her short fiction serving as part of her ongoing creative journey.
H. Griot — Outside the Photograph
H. Griot is a Ghanaian writer whose work explores memory, identity, culture and the experiences that shape people’s lives. Drawing inspiration from Ghanaian life, folklore, music and everyday encounters, he blends familiar settings with imagination.
His writing spans African fantasy, short fiction, poetry and reflective personal narratives. He sees storytelling as a way to understand the world and create spaces in which readers can recognise themselves. Outside writing, his interests include reading, cooking and photography.
- The 2026 New Voices Contest continues to provide a platform for emerging writers to bring their perspectives on Ghanaian experiences to a wider audience.
This year’s theme, “A Country in Motion,” offers room for varied interpretations of a nation shaped by changing identities, social relationships, cultural memory and contemporary realities.
With six stories now shortlisted, attention turns to the final stage of the competition and the recognition of writers whose work reflects the diversity of Ghana’s evolving literary landscape.
Beyond recognition, the New Voices Fiction Contest offers writers opportunities for professional development, publication and engagement with the literary community.
The overall winner will receive a GHS 1,500 cash prize, a GHS 1,000 City Reads book voucher, three months of free access to NewComma Pro, a featured interview, a featured reading, anthology publication, mentorship with an established writer, workshops, a certificate of recognition and promotional features across the organisers’ platforms.
The second-place winner will receive a GHS 1,000 cash prize, a GHS 700 City Reads book voucher and three months of free access to NewComma Pro, alongside a featured reading, anthology publication, mentorship, workshops, a certificate of recognition and promotional features.
The third-place winner will receive a GHS 500 City Reads book voucher and three months of free access to NewComma Pro, alongside a featured reading, anthology publication, mentorship with an established writer, workshops, a certificate of recognition and spotlight promotion across the organisers’ platforms.
All six shortlisted writers will benefit from a featured reading, anthology publication, workshops, certificates of recognition and promotional features across the organisers’ platforms.
Writers who made the longlist will also receive publication in a special edition of HummingBird Journal, a featured reading, workshops and certificates of recognition.
Congratulations to the writers!