The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene has launched a special committee to diagnose and tackle the barriers holding back the region’s film sector. The initiative is designed to spur growth and craft actionable solutions for Kumawood’s challenges.
In a post on his Facebook page, Dr Amoakohene, wrote: “Today, I officially commissioned a Ministerial Committee on the Movie Industry & Creatives (Kumawood) to drive the growth and transformation of Ghana’s film and creative arts sector.”
The committee is expected to, among other things, assess the current state of the industry and identify key challenges, develop policies to attract investment and ensure sustainable growth. It will also be responsible for exploring strategies to promote Ghanaian films both locally and internationally while strengthening film infrastructure by improving production facilities and training opportunities, and fostering collaboration between stakeholders to create more opportunities for filmmakers, actors, and creatives.
Dr. Frank Amoakohene, urged the newly formed committee to drive the growth of Kumawood with dedication, commitment, and unity. He said by working together, they can elevate the entire creative industry to new heights and build a globally competitive film industry that showcases the rich stories of Asanteman and Ghana.
Responding beneath the post, filmmaker and former Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) Public Relations Officer, Ola Michael expressed cautious optimism. He commented, “Good to hear from you, Hon Minister. I pray something useful comes out of this committee because we know the problems already and we know the solutions. When I say we, I mean we in the creative and cultural industries, specifically, the Kumawood as well. Reason some of the campaign promises were made, mostly targeting the very reason this committee is being set up. We await the outcome. Kudos honourable.”