Accra, Oct.24, GNA- Thirty students were on Friday admitted into the National Film and television Institute (NAFTI) for a four year degree course. The students would undertake courses in Film and Television such as Animation, Motion Picture Photography, Editing, Film Directing and Art Direction.

Addressing the students, Mr. Martin Loh, Director of NAFTI noted that the school which is currently the major centre for film and television education and training in sub-Saharan Africa should advance its frontiers of knowledge in film and television. He said the school spent a lot of resources in upgrading the qualification of its teaching staff during its preparation to a degree-awarding institute.

He mentioned that the problem of poor condition of service which stunted the growth of the institute was been addressing since the Ministry of Finance had approved the upgrading of salaries of staff to the level of the Public Universities.

"This will ensure that NAFTI recruits and retains the most qualified and efficient lectures and supporting staff and also ensure that our expectation to commence post-graduate programmes will now be met", he explained.

The Director noted that very soon the institute would re-vitalise its Film Dubbing Project to enable film companies abroad to work at the centre in order to generate income to help in funding some projects of the school.

He disclosed that, very soon the school curriculum would be upgraded to bring it in line with the rapid changes in the film and television industry.

He noted next year, the facilities at the institute's studio 2 for training would be rehabilitated since the school's budget for 2008 had been approved.

He thanked the French Embassy, the GETfund, UNESCO, Fullbright and the Goethe Institute for their assistance to the school. In a message read on his behalf, Professor Nii Boye Tagoe, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana expressed his delight about NAFTI's affiliation with Legon and praised the students for excellence results that they were producing.

He encouraged graduates of the school to form a consortium to source funding for the sponsorship of their production and urged the fresh students to be studious and obedient to school authorities. Ms. Dorothy Gordon, Director-General of Ghana India Kofi Annan Centre for Excellence in ICT appealed to the products of the school to produce quality films which can sell globally and also portray the good deeds of the nation in their products. She pledged the support of her outfit in the provision of modern day technology to the school. 24 Oct. 08