Pass film-making bill to enhance quality production - Hesse

Accra, Feb. 7, GNA - The Rev. Dr. Chris Hesse, President of the Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts, on Monday called for the passing of the bill on film making to enable professional film makers to produce quality films to boost the industry.

When the bill was passed, it would protect film makers and they would be encouraged to produce good quality films with Ghanaian value, Rev. Dr. Hesse said at the celebration of the First National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) Students Representative Council Week under the theme, "Liberating The Minds of The People Through Film."

"There are a lot of untold stories about the Ghanaian culture but film makers are emulating the western style," he said.

"Let's share ideas and find a common solution to our film making industry, which could serve as a catalyst for change in the people's minds," he added.

He said film was the most powerful means of communication because of its audio-visual effect.

Rev. Dr. said if film was effectively used it was a more potent weapon by which the identity and distinguishing features of a nation, its image, culture, policies and philosophies as well as aspirations and achievements were expressed on popular minds throughout the world.

He blamed the negative image of Africa on the colonial masters who reserved to themselves the exclusive rights to produce films about Africa and for Africa with a mission to destroy the continent.

Films like "Unhappy Non-White" "The Corrupt Politician", "The Mental "Inferior, "The Happy Slave" and the Savage African were produced by westerners, adding that even in the era of information technology revolution Africans were still being bombarded with electronic images on poverty, AIDS and diseases.

Rev. Dr. Hesse said Dr Kwame Nkrumah established the film industry in Ghana to reorganise the industry, repair the damage, change the direction of the values and attitudes and restore our pride and self-esteem.

He said it was wrong to have sold the GAMA Film Theatre to the Malaysians.

Mr Perry T.K. Nartey, SRC President, said NAFTI, which has trained 242 students from across Africa, aims at being one of the leading film and television institutes in the world.

It offers a four-year full-time bachelor of Fine Arts degree programme.