Renowned film director and producer, Richmond Afrane, has strongly criticized the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoako Hene, for bypassing the National Film Authority (NFA) in his bid to revive the struggling Kumasi movie industry, popularly known as Kumawood.
The Minister recently set up a 17-member ministerial committee to oversee the revival of Kumawood. This committee, chaired by Bishop Ofori-Adu, includes notable industry veterans such as Oheneyere Mercy Asiedu and Bill Asamoah.
However, Afrane believes the formation of the committee is not only unnecessary but also unlawful, arguing that the National Film Authority (NFA) is the only government institution mandated to oversee matters relating to the film industry in Ghana.
In a fiery statement, Afrane questioned the Minister’s decision and called for the immediate dissolution of the committee.
“It is absolutely wrong and ridiculous for the Ashanti Regional Minister to set up a Kumawood Committee when we already have an active government institution like the NFA,” he fumed.
Afrane further expressed his concerns over whether the NFA was consulted before the committee’s formation and suggested that the Minister’s focus should have been on strengthening the existing structures rather than creating a new committee.
“I thought he would rather fight for an NFA office in Kumasi to help the authority revive Kumawood. How is he going to pay the committee members? Is he using his own pocket money or taxpayers’ money to finance this committee?” he asked.
According to Afrane, the most effective way to revive the ailing Kumawood industry is to establish an NFA office in the Ashanti Region, specifically in Kumasi, to oversee film production and development in the Northern sector.
“…Setting up a committee is purely a hypocritical move,” he added.
“The Minister, Dr. Amoako Hene, must come out clearly and explain why he chose to set up this committee instead of setting up an office in Kumasi for the National Film Authority.”
Source: Oyerepafmonline.com /Joseph Marfo
