Naagyei 90.3 Fm Agyapa
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Barbara Oteng-Gyasi has assured stakeholders and practitioners of the film industry that the National film Authority Board will be inaugurated before the end of 2019.
Her promise comes after stakeholders in the movie industry picketed at the premises of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to demand the establishment of the National Film Authority.
In her statement after receiving the petition from the leadership of the group said the President and members of the Council of State are yet to appoint both Executive Secretary and Board Chair of the National Film Authority in accordance of ACT935.
She assured Film stakeholders she will do all she can to get it done by the end of 2019.
“It is only two positions left for the President and Council of State to appoint. We’ve submitted all necessary documents to the Council of State as required by law so that they also consider it and give it the green light. Once it gets that green light, we’re doing the inauguration. Definitely, the inauguration of the board is going to happen before the end of this year.
“I’m assuring you that before the end of the year which is 31st December, the board will be inauguration. We’re engaging them to expedite action on appointing an Executive Secretary and inaugurating the board. ” She added
Hundreds of stakeholders and practitioners in the Film industry picketed around the premises of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture [MoTAC] on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, to press home their demand for the establishment of the National Film Authority (NFA).
Briefing the media, Kojo Preko Dankwa, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of National Film Authority Action Group, stated that film practitioners and stakeholders will take every necessary step needed to save the industry in the country.
“We will like to announce to all stakeholders and the media that, every necessary step needed to save the film industry of Ghana must be taken and we will make sure of that. The group is throwing at government especially Mr. President, who has the authority to appoint both Executive Secretary and Board Chair of the National Film Authority in accordance of ACT935 within a week or risk seeing film stakeholders on the streets of Accra.” Kojo Preko Dankwa stated
He said the implementation of ACT 935 is to the benefit of the film industry and Ghana.
According to the PRO, structures are very important in the development of every sector of the economy and hope the government will not delay further after months of stakeholder nominees waiting to serve the industry.
NFA, under the Classification and Development of Film Act, Act 935 by MoTAC saw tremendous headway under the leadership of the former Minister, Hon. Catherine Afeku.
It would be recalled that the Member of Parliament for Evalue-Gwira-Ajomoro started the process of getting the Authority established but unfortunately, she was reassigned to the Presidency.
Under her leadership, she charged practitioners to conduct nationwide stakeholder engagement so as to map out modalities for the Legislative Instrument (L.I) that will ensure the institutionalization of the Development and Classification of Film Law (Act 935), 2016.
The committee after its findings handed over an in-depth report to the Ministry, which included a draft LI which was about 60% ready.
