Veteran Ghanaian actress Akofa Edjeani has voiced her frustration over the government’s failure to establish and fund the Creative Arts fund, which was intended to support the country’s film industry.
Speaking at the 3Entertainment Creative Arts Forum on August 30, Edjeani, who is also a board member of the National Film Authority (NFA), expressed deep concern about the NFA’s lack of financial backing despite the Creative Arts Act 935 mandating its creation.
“The National Film Authority (NFA) has been operating for about five years now,” Edjeani said. “According to Act 935, a fund was supposed to be established for this period, but we have not received a single Cedi in that fund.”
She highlighted a perceived disparity in funding between the film sector and other forms of entertainment, particularly sports.
“We prioritize sports and allocate significant funds for events like the All-African Games, yet the film industry, which has the potential to be equally impactful, remains underfunded,” she noted.
“We can spend $15 million on catering for sports in under three weeks, but we can’t allocate even a million to the film fund?”
Edjeani emphasized the vital role of the creative industry in generating employment and revenue.
“The potential of the film industry and the broader creative sector to create jobs and contribute to the economy is immense. I don’t understand why there is a lack of truth about the importance of investing in this sector,” she said.
Her remarks call for urgent attention and investment in the NFA and the broader creative arts industry, underscoring the sector’s potential to contribute significantly to Ghana’s economic and cultural landscape.
