THE GHANA FILM INDUSTRY @59

Mother Ghana on 6^th March celebrated her 59^th birthday and her film industry was acknowledged at the Black Star Square. Fifty-nine years down the line, is there much to celebrate about the film industry in Ghana?

The answer is simple but asked a politician and you will be bewildered by the answer especially if he is in government. The Gold Coast masters surrendering Ghana surrendered the film industry as well to Kwame Nkrumah. Osagyefo built on it and positioned the film industry to conquer Africa and prove to the world that we can match Hollywood of the 1950s.

The Abongo boys did what they best, Nkrumah out of power, the film industry slowly started to go down of it kneels, viable parts of the film industry were sold to cronies and the unwanted parts were left to die a natural death.

Individuals with passion for film but no political might stepped in and filled the void. When they couldn’t hold the front line any long and were losing audience the likes of Agya Koo blossomed to win back audience for the film industry.

The film industry since then has continue to see a turtle pace growth. There has been no major investment in the sector similar to what was done by founding father of the nation Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

So the Ghana film industry at 59; there are a few old soldiers holding the frontline-like Venus Films, Silverline films etc and a few new soldiers at the front line-ABC Production, YN Production, Sparrow Production etc fighting the battle to the enemy line. 

At 59 what is evident to any active participant in the Ghana film industry is the emergence of a film industry that is operating below it capacity. With a sad and sorrowful heart I say to all film enthusiasts happy anniversary, Sharparrows signing out.