President Akufo-Addo has assured stakeholders in the firm and creative arts sector that his administration will work hard with the sector to make Ghana\u2019s firm industry competitive and profitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing the first in the series of the Presidential film pitch at the M\u00f6venpick Ambassador Hotel under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the National Film Authority (NFA), today the 28th of April 2021 under the theme:\u201dStrengthening the Ghana film Ecosystem\u201d, President Akufo-Addo said countries such as the United States of America (USA) and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, have built profitable film industries and Ghana is capable of doing same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am aware that the Ghanaian film industry has many fine, talented players along the value chain and government will continue to initiate policies and programs to help make the Ghanaian film sector competitive and viable. The National Film Authority will lead the charge in introducing business development modules into film making, production and distribution in order to help create a vibrant market for local film production\u201d President Akufo-Addo stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTake for instance the American film industry, better known as Hollywood, which supports some twenty-two million jobs and a staggering wage bill of one hundred and thirty-seven billion united states dollars ($137,000,000,000.00). In neighboring Nigeria, Nollywood is said to contribute some six hundred million United States dollars ($600,000,000.00) to the country gross domestic product and create some on million jobs\u201d the President added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stressing further, President Akufo-Addo indicated that he believes that it is not beyond Ghana \u201cto produce such statistics and the availability of the right skills set is critical to this end\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Empowering NAFTI<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The President noted that in order to produce the right skills set, \u201cGovernment is retooling the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) to enable it provide the needed training for players in the industry\u201d in the country\u2019s \u201cquest to make Ghana attractive to international film productions\u201d as well as to make her a \u201chub for film production in West Africa\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cForty-five million euros (\u20ac45,000,000.00) has been approved for NAFTI to reform it into a world-class training facility,\u201d President Akufo-Addo said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Creative Arts Industry Act<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In his address, the President revealed that he has given his assent to the Creative Arts Industry Act which was passed by the 7th Parliament of the Republic during his first term in office. He indicated that the Act will help create an \u201cenabling environment for the Ghanaian film sector and the creative arts sector in general, to contribute effectively to the nation\u2019s growth\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n