Film producers heckle owners of TV3

The Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts (GAFTA) says it would do everything to protect Ghana?s cultural heritage and history from foreign meddling.

The President of GAFTA, Rev. Dr. Chris Hesse told journalists last week that since the doubtful divestiture of the Ghana Film Industry Corporation (GFIC), the Ghanaian film industry has experienced nothing, but decline to the point of total collapse, adding that this has happened within the short space of approximately nine years ? 1996 to 2005?.

At a press conference in Accra, GAFTA registered their dissatisfaction over the activities and operations of the GFIC, whose divestiture has affected the quality of films being produced. This made the Ghanaian film industry to play second fiddle to the Nigerian Film Industry.

Rev Hesse, therefore called on the government to take immediate steps to review the the divestiture of the GFIC to ascertain whether it was in compliance with laid down regulations and procedures.

GAFTA has vowed to work for a film and television industry that must grow and salvage its one time glorious image and ensure that future generations are proud of their cultural heritage preserved through the film and television industry.

The president, giving the background to the industry, said Dr Kwame Nkrumah, being aware of the importance that film plays in the socio-cultural and economic development of a country, set up the Ghana Film Unit to replace what the British colonial masters had established as the Gold Coast Film Unit in 1957.

He recalled that the Film Exhibition and Distribution Services were incorporated to the Ghana Film Unit, which later became the Ghana Film Industry Corporation the only film Industry Corporation in Black Africa. That is no more. GAFTA blames TV3 of Malaysia, which holds 70% shares in the Gama Film Company for failing to revitalize the industry as stated in the agreement

Rather, TV3, a tenant company using the property of the Gama Film Company has succeeded in gaining prominence over the Gama Film Company, by projecting their television company.