The need to revive film making in Ghana has become paramount. The Film Industry has an important role to play especially in the promotion of a Country’s culture which is a nation’s identity. Film makers in America and China are said not to be interested in film making that brings home international prizes alone, but those that can as well spread the ideals and cultures of their respective nations.
Aside being an avenue for selling a Country’s identity and Culture, Film making is a great income earner to many countries not forgetting the employment it offers many. Available reports for instance have it that today, film making alone employs about a million people in Nigeria, making it the Country’s biggest employer after Agriculture. Unfortunately, in spite of Ghana’s pioneering role in the African film industry it appears an understatement to state that after fifty years of our independence the Ghanaian film industry is still struggling to establish its feet firmly on the ground. Although some efforts have been made in recent time purposely targeted at putting the Ghana Film Industry in the desired pedestal, we still have a long way to go.
For Ghana to make the desired impact in film making we may have to take inspiration from a Country like Hong Kong which continues to be the World’s Major film production centre. Hong Kong is known to have chalked this success in filmmaking as a result of the entrepreneurial spirit with which people invest in this industry in that Country. Ghanaian producers will also do this all important industry a great service by ensuring that they produce films that have both local and cross border appeal in terms of story line and technical quality. Today the Film industry in Nigeria is thriving because of the huge investment it is attracting.
Ghanaian Film producers will give our film Industry the necessary impetus that can attract investors if a critical look is taken at the production of lousy technical quality films, poorly written scripts, films saturated with unrealistic themes among others. Aside the need for good stories, film producers will do the film industry a lot of service by insisting on high profile directing and advanced production technology. Indeed the role that the Government has to play in uplifting the film industry cannot be overemphasized.
For one Pakistani Filmmaker, Governments all over the world should have a deep interest in having the citizenry entertained as a recipe for peace in a country. For, in a country where there is the absence of quality entertainment, it is aggression and hostility that is the order of the day. One factor that will in no less, facilitate the enhancement of the film industry toward the right direction is the need for the Government to ensure the speedy operationalisation of the National Film policy.
This draft policy recognizes the economic and cultural potential of film and video in Ghana and seeks to strengthen the role of the public and private sectors in the production, marketing, promotion, distribution and exhibition of films in Ghana. The President of the Actors Guild of Ghana Samuel Nii Odoi Mensah intimated sometime ago at a film makers meeting that Television stations have a role to play in promoting Ghana’s Film Industry.
He said it is unfortunate that some TV stations in Ghana take interest in showing foreign movies when Ghana is hosting international Programmes that have foreigners visiting the nation. Our TV stations will therefore do the Nation a great service by promoting Ghana through the telecast of more local indigenous production. The production of some high standard films in Ghana in recent times attest to the fact that Ghana can, indeed, excel in the film industry if things are done rightly. For the Ghanaian film industry to excel, the right administrative approach should be employed in getting the industry to the expected level.
BY DAVID OWUSU-AMOAH, MINISTRY OF CHIEFTAINCY AND CULTURE.
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