#GhVetting: We’ll make Ghana hub of film production in West Africa – Awal Mohammed
Awal Mohammed, the Minister-designate for Tourism, Arts and Culture has expressed his intention to help make Ghana the hub of filmmaking in West Africa.
He told the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Thursday, February 25, 2021, that when approved by Parliament, he will see to the establishment of a 20-million-dollar film studio that will attract people from outside the country.
“We want to build a film and music studio. It’s one element that can increase the tourism potential of this country. We don’t have any serious studio in this country, so this is one of the first things that we will do. The film studio will help in music and film production and make Ghana the hub of film production in West Africa,” he said.
He also said that local television series will be encouraged to help project Ghanaian culture.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in its 2020 manifesto promised to build recording studios in Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Western Regions.
These studios will be established in Kumasi, Accra, Tamale, and Takoradi.
During the launch of the NPP’s 2020 manifesto in the Central Region on August 22, 2020, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia said: “We see the creative arts as a major growth pole. It has so much talent. The problem is access to a studio. As a result, we will set up large recording studios in Accra, Tema, Takoradi, and Kumasi, for recording artists to rent”.
The creative industry, especially the film sector has suffered a lot of setbacks, forcing a lot of film producers to abandon the business for other ventures.
A lot of filmmakers have cited lack of funding, lack of marketing avenues, piracy, among others as the nemeses of their trade.
The National Film Authority has also announced that plans are underway for the restructuring of the sector to make it more profitable to the filmmakers and the creative industry at large.
A committee has been constituted with the task of choosing a name for the Ghanaian film industry.
