President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday inaugurated the National Film Authority (NFA) Board with a charge on members to develop the industry into a profitable venture.
He said such a goal could be achieved if members adopted the right strategies by putting their expertise to play.
The board, which is chaired by ace Ghanaian actor, David Dontoh, is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring an economically self-sustaining and culturally conscious film industry.
It is also to advise the sector minister on matters concerning the industry, facilitate the establishment of a circuit for the distribution and marketing of Ghanaian films both in and outside the country, and also ensure the development of a code of ethics for the industry.
Besides, the board will oversee a Film Development Fund and also set standards for the accreditation and training of practitioners in the industry.
President Akufo-Addo administered the official oath and the oath of secrecy to the 14-member board and said: “In Mr David Dontoh, one of the leading actors of this generation, I believe we have a person who fully satisfies the requirements of the stature and who can be trusted to see to the implementation of the functions of the authority.
“We have a lot of talented people across all the spectrums of the industry — actors, actresses, promoters, producers, directors, technicians — and with the requisite support from the government, the banks, and the private sector, the authority should be able to put our industry on the continental and global maps.”
The President said the Nigerian film industry, known as Nollywood, earned over $1 billion dollars annually, saying Ghallywood, the Ghanaian industry should be able to do likewise.
Membership
Other members are Madam Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority; Madam Yaa Attafua, a representative of the Copyright Office, nominated by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice; Madam Josephine Ohene-Osei of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Mrs Dora Darkwa-Mensah of the Ministry of Communications; Dr Samuel Anyetel Nai of the National Film and Television Institute, and Mr Samuel Fiscian of the Ghana Actors’ Guild.
The rest are Mr Zakaria Abdulai of the Film Producers’ Association of Ghana; Mr Koffi Nartey of the Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts; Ms Akofa Edjeani of Women in Film and Television; Mr Kofi Ohemeng Owusu of the Collective Management Organisation of Audio Visual Rights Owners; Mrs Ruklyatu Naa Ayikaley Ankrah of the Film Distributors and Marketers; Mr Samuel Gyandoh of the Film Crew Association of Ghana, and Mr Ernest Boateng, a nominee of Television Stations.
Bill
President Akufo-Addo said a Creative Arts Industry Bill had been presented to Cabinet for consideration and that once it was passed by Parliament, the act would establish a creative arts fund and an agency to promote the industry.
He said it would also help the government create an enabling environment through which direct and indirect support for industry practitioners could be channelled.
The President said the government had demonstrated its commitment to the creative arts industry by commencing the construction of a senior high school dedicated to the development of the industry. The sod for the project was cut in Kumasi on December 1, 2019.
Appreciation
On behalf of members, Mr Dontoh expressed appreciation to the President for the confidence reposed in them and his interest in the development of the creative arts industry.
He asked for the government’s continued support for the growth of the industry, adding that the legislative instrument that would make the Film Act operational should be put in place for us to ‘start running’.
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