NAFTI to champion national regeneration

Accra, May 18, GNA - Mr Samuel Okudjeto-Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information, on Monday tasked the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) to champion national regeneration crusade for the attainment of the "Better Ghana," agenda of the Government. "The issues of internet fraud - Sakawa; poor environmental sanitation and other social vices that have bedevilled the Ghanaian society need to be confronted through the power of cinematography. "NAFTI through their products must impact on society with educative national oriented, cultural focused films to change the psyche of the people towards development," Mr Okudjeto-Ablakwa stated during a working visit to NAFTI. NAFTI was established in 1978 by the Government as a public Institution of Higher Education in Film and Television Production with a campus spread over three studios in Accra. Since its inception in 1978, NAFTI has fostered professional and academic excellence in film and television education and consequently has drawn students from many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa including Benin , Burkina Faso, Burundi , Cameroon , Ethiopia , Gambia , Ghana , Mali , Nigeria , South Africa, Swaziland , Uganda , Tanzania , Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Mr Okudjeto-Ablakwa, who accompanied by Mr James Agyenim-Boateng also a Deputy Minister; expressed concern about the lack of coordinated film industry in the country, a situation which has lead to foreign film dominating the television screens and the home theatres. He said: "Foreign films have different ideological and cultural persuasions, most of which is contrarily to our values and norms as a nation but unfortunately we are exposing our children to these alien norms."

The Deputy Minister, therefore, tasked NAFTI to translate their academic accomplishment to reflect in the life of the people, "you should bring back 'Time with NAFTI,' to our screens again". Mr Agyenim-Boateng urged NAFTI to use the film business to market the country, "create and market a positive and attractive production environment in the country for international film, commercial and stills production". He also urged NAFTI to encourage the development and distribution of local productions, increasing audiences for film product and encouraging the study of film. He also tasked the officials to ensure that the development of a career in the film industry by the younger generation was accessible, achievable and sustainable. Mr Agyenim-Boateng said the Government through the Ministry of Information would support the development of a broad crew base through appropriate training, support the development of small business entrepreneurship to build the film industry. "We must also work together for the spread of economic benefits through tourism and related industry spin offs; promote the status of the NAFTI as the link for film business related information within the State for a wide variety of audiences," he said. Mr Martin Loh, NAFTI Director, attributed the demise of "Time with NAFTI," to change in policy at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). Mr Loh said NAFTI has reached an agreement for the re-introduction of the "Time with NAFTI" within the next few weeks. On the development of NAFTI and its impact on national development, Mr Loh explained that graduates of the Institute have been influential in shaping the film and television industry in Ghana and in Africa. He said the Institute offered professional programmes leading to the award of Diplomas until 1999, when, in affiliation with the University of Ghana, it commenced full-time four-year professional Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree.

The NAFTI Director said the two-year Diploma programmes are essentially intended for industry practitioners, who wished to update their knowledge and skills. NAFTI has over the years also provided diverse collaborative technical support for projects within and outside the Africa, he said, adding that the Institute was a full member of the renowned International Association of Film and Television Academies and Universities (CILECT).

Mr Loh said the Institute recognised its unique role in the development and propagation of African culture and, therefore, encouraged each student to develop his or her creative talents to be able to face the challenge of producing materials that reflected the spiritual and intellectual aspiration of Africans. Mr Loh led the Deputy Ministers to inspect the main NAFTI Library; television studio; film and video production equipment; computer animation facilities; still photo laboratory and theatres.

Pix 0001: Mr Martin Loh (middle), NAFTI Director, briefing Mr Samuel Okudjeto-Ablakwa (left) and Mr James Agyenim-Boateng (right) both Deputy Ministers of Information