Accra selected for shooting International film

Accra May 25, GNA - Accra has been chosen as an important location in the shooting of a film "Mission Impossible III" by Paramount Films. The filming would involve intense activities involving the Ministry of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Electricity Company of Ghana, National Security, Airport and other sectors, between May and October 2004.

Mr Abubarkar Saddique Boniface, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City announced this when he briefed the Management and Coordinating Team for the film production.

The Management and Coordinating Team is under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the capital city, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey.

Members of the Management and Coordinating Team include representatives from National Security, AMA City Engineers' Department, Ghana Trade Fair Authority, Department of Urban Roads, Electricity Company of Ghana, Ghana Water Company, Ghana Telecom, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Customs Excise and Preventive Service, the Environmental protection Agency, Ghana Police Service and State Protocol.

Mr Boniface said about 300 people will be coming to Ghana for the shooting and there would be possible employment of about 2,500 others to help make the filming a success.

"There would be a significant short term impact on our local economy since they would employ some 600 set builders, supervisors and other people to work with," he said.

The Deputy Minister said the Filming Industry was another form of tourism since shooting the film in this country would help attract other film industries to shoot their films in Ghana thereby marketing the country to other tourists.

Mr Boniface was happy about the fact that the film was going to be an educative film with no form of violence.

He said the Paramount Films would also put in place some infrastructure to help in the shooting of the films.

"Such infrastructure like drain cleaning and covering, road improvement work, construction of a cesspit on the beaches to deal with sewage overflow will be left as a legacy for the country," he said. He urged members of the Management and Coordinating Team to work hard to see to the successful shooting of the film.

Mr Tom Hayslip, Production Supervisor - Ghana, said Ghana stood to benefit both in short and long terms and that Ghana was chosen because it had certain basic characteristics.