John Apea


John Apea is an award-winning filmmaker, actor, educationist and diplomat of Ghanaian descent.

Early years and education

John Apea was born in London to Dr. Emmanuel Apea, a former Diplomat with the Commonwealth Secretariat in London and UN Ambassador and Coordinator to Nigeria and ECOWAS, and Emma Elizabeth Apea a teacher.
John Apea was educated at Achimota Preparatory School and Presbyterian Boy’s School in Accra, Ghana. He furthered his education in the U.K, and was a student at the private schools Cranbook, and later Collingham College.
He is a graduate of the Schools of Social Sciences of University of York and the University of Oxford in the U.K.

Career

Apea is an actor, co-creator/writer and producer of art film Elmina, which premiered at the Tate Gallery in London and exhibited at the Witte de Witte Gallery in the Netherlands, ZKM in Germany.
Apea's film works have been officially selected the Rotterdam Film Festival, Durban Film Festival and the Pan-African Film Festival in the United States. He is a recipient of the for his work with British/American artist Doug Fishbone and director Emmanuel Apea Jnr.
Apea previously worked with the UK Cabinet Office as a Senior Community Organiser. He is presently the Commonwealth Representative for the Africa Region and spearheaded the historic launch of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition by The Duchess of Cornwall, The First Lady of Ghana and Edward Enninful, Editor of British Vogue. Apea is the creator of Commonwealth Goodwill Essay Ambassador scheme and has enlisted celebrities in Ghana such as Kwesi Arthur, KiDi KiDi, Kuami Eugene, Becca and Jackie Appiah to spearhead the pilot literacy project.

Personal life

John Apea is married to Dr. Vanessa Apea, a Harvard-trained consultant physician in London, and they have two children.