Government Launches Film Development Fund to Boost Ghana’s Creative Industry
The Government of Ghana has officially inaugurated the Film Development Fund Management Committee at a ceremony held at Silverbird Cinemas Accra Mall, marking a major step towards strengthening Ghana’s film industry through sustainable investment and long-term growth.
The event brought together government officials, filmmakers, actors, producers, content creators, broadcasters, media practitioners, and stakeholders within Ghana’s creative arts sector.
The inauguration of the committee is expected to provide structured financial support for Ghana’s audiovisual industry, which for many years has struggled with funding, distribution, and limited infrastructure.
Speaking at the event, members of the committee described the Film Development Fund as a transformative initiative that could reshape the future of Ghana’s film and television industry.
According to the committee, the fund will support:
- Film production
- Distribution systems
- Cinema and exhibition infrastructure
- Talent development
- Digital innovation
- Audience growth
- Youth employment opportunities
The committee also commended the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, and the National Film Authority for taking steps to provide institutional support for the industry.
Members of the committee expressed appreciation for the confidence placed in them and pledged to manage the fund with integrity, accountability, transparency, and fairness.
They noted that Africa’s audiovisual industry currently holds enormous potential and could become a major source of employment and economic growth across the continent.
The committee also welcomed the government’s allocation of GH¢20 million together with an additional GH¢1.2 million as seed funding for the Film Development Fund through the Ministry of Finance.
According to the committee, the seed funding is only the beginning, stressing that continuous investment and strong partnerships would be needed to build a globally competitive film industry in Ghana.
To encourage public participation and support, the committee announced the activation of the official Film Development Fund shortcode:
*713*8888#
The shortcode will allow individuals, organizations, corporate institutions, and supporters of the creative industry to contribute financially towards the development of Ghana’s film sector.
The committee explained that every contribution will help support storytelling, cultural preservation, tourism promotion, youth employment, and national economic growth.
Speaking to the media during the inauguration, Chief Executive Officer of the National Film Authority, Kafui Danku, described the launch of the fund as a historic milestone for the film industry.
“For the first time since the inception of the National Film Authority, we have a fund — a seed fund of 20 million Ghana cedis,” she said.
According to her, financing has remained one of the biggest challenges facing the industry over the years, and the release of the fund by government shows commitment towards supporting Ghanaian filmmakers and content creators.
Kafui Danku explained that the fund is not free money but an investment meant to grow the industry and create sustainable opportunities.
She revealed that discussions are already ongoing on measures to ensure beneficiaries repay loans or investments back into the fund to keep it growing for future generations.
“The fund is not free money,” she stressed. “We are working on systems that will ensure the money comes back to the fund so more people can also benefit.”
She further stated that the fund will be accessible to players across the entire audiovisual ecosystem, including:
- Content creators
- Film producers
- Film distributors
- Broadcasters
- Film exhibitors
- Other professionals within the creative industry
Kafui Danku added that beyond financing, part of the fund would also be used to improve distribution and exhibition channels within the country.
“For a very long time, financing and distribution have been major challenges for the industry. This fund is a big step towards solving those problems,” she said.
The inauguration ceremony ended with renewed calls for collaboration between government, corporate Ghana, financial institutions, telecom companies, streaming platforms, development partners, and the Ghanaian diaspora to help build a stronger and more competitive creative economy for the country.
