The Committee that would be
chaired by the Reverend Chris Hese, a Minister of the
Gospel who has spent his entire working life in the film and television
industry, is to complete its work by 2004.
The first Africa Film Market,
which would be an annual film festival, is on the theme: "Rewarding
African Creativity" and aimed at creating marketing opportunities for
Ghanaians and African film producers to sell their productions.
It is also to create market
opportunities for Ghanaian and African films and to promote foreign direct investment
into the African film industry. Africa Film and Music Company (AFRIMUS)
organised the programme in collaboration with the National Commission on
Culture (NCC).
Moses Foh-Amoaning,
a Legal Practitioner, who inaugurated the Committee, said the Ghanaian film
producer was unfortunately like a prophet, who was not welcomed in his own home
adding that his works were heavily criticised even before they hit the screens and
not adequately rewarded for his efforts.
He said in
"Ironically most of the
films produced by the African film maker and which are highlighted by more
prestigious film festivals like FESPACO are more likely to be seen on the big
screens of
Foh-Amoaning said it was to reward the
filmmakers that the African Film Market was being instituted and urged the
Committee Members to be committed to their task. Kofi
Amoateng, a Director of the NCC, said the Ghanaian Film
Industry was ready to compete in the world market and called on the Members to
ensure that local films also win the Grammy Awards by 2004.
He expressed the NCC's commitment and support towards building a sustainable
African Film Market. Torgbor Mensah,
Chairman of Argon Group, who quoted Dr Kwame Nkrumah,
The first President of Ghana saying: "We have put in place a film industry
to feed our TV station with Ghanaian and African films'' during the launch of
the Ghana TV Service in 1965 and said that wish had become a reality and
charged the Committee to open the way for filmmakers.
GRi.../
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Adankwame (Ashanti Region)
The practice, they noted, is a
major source of worry to them since nothing out of the proceeds is used in support
of development projects of the town. As a result, the youth, feeling very peeved
about the situation have threatened to confront the chiefs involved and
developers of those lands, but had been restrained by some elders, pending an
action from the Asantehene.
Nana Dwomo
Mensah Aborampah, Nkosuohene of Adankwame, who made
the appeal on behalf of the people at a fund raising harvest, said projects
like schools, a market place and a KVIP place of convenience were being undertaken
in the town which needed financial support, but proceeds from the land sales
only went to the individual chiefs who sell them out. Nana Dwomo
Mensah however, appealed to all citizens both
resident and non-resident to contribute generously towards the development of
the town.
GRi.../
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