The film industry will get better when the NDC wins power – Kafui Danku

Ghanaian actress Kafui Danku is hopeful that the Ghanaian film industry will receive a massive boost provided the National Democratic Congress (NDC) wins power in the general election slated for December 7, 2024.

Kafui who professes to be a member of the NDC told Hitz FM’s Doreen Avio in an interview that the progress of Ghanaian film industry has been slow because it is riddled with challenges.

She said these challenges have persisted for a while but she is optimistic that when the NDC wins power, things will change for the better.

“Funding and distribution have always been a challenge but it has gotten worse; it has declined some more and I was hoping it will be better but if we all stop putting in effort or kill our passions it’s never going to get any better, so let’s just get back to work, still do our part and try to maybe step or do something different and see if something different will happen.

“I’m still hopeful that it can get better especially when my party wins. When NDC is back in power it will get better,” she told Doreen Avio.

The film maker added that she has reposed so much trust in the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama because his ideas hold great promise for the arts industry.

“I have been following a lot of John Mahama’s campaign, his posts and everything, I see how passionate he is about our industry. I’ve heard him talk about how he can’t wait for us to enjoy 5G so we can create our content. He has plans for us. I am sure you’ve seen in the news how he has supported some old actors and all that. You can tell that he has some passion for arts and even for the people who paved the way and are not working, he still has them at heart. So I know definitely when he’s back in power, he’s gonna do something to make it better,” she said.

She further stated that the economic conditions under the New Patriotic Party have been unfavourable to citizens.

“I am Ghanaian. I live in Ghana. I work in Ghana. I eat, breathe in Ghana. I mean, are you not feeling the heat? Okay fine, let’s just go to the basics. During somebody’s era we had this exchange rate thingy; it was much better. I was working on a project, do you know the project is stuck? Because when people bring me the quote, the next moment the quote changes. When I go and collect my ‘susu’, and wants to go on a project, then it changes. Now I have to hold on. Just when they bring another quote and I want to raise more ‘susu’, it changes again. Like it has affected me a lot. Cost of living, I felt it over the couple of years. I lot has gone on. So I think change will be better,” she added.

Although the various political parties are yet to launch their manifestoes, some of them have laid down some policy ideas. While the New Patriotic Party seeks to provide online music platforms for musicians, provide e-visa for visitors, improve on the Beyond the Return and provide tax incentives for creatives, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has outlined about 22 promises for the cultural and creative industries.

(1). To make budgetary allocation for the creative arts

(2) Declare the Golden Age of Culture, Arts and Tourism, an overarching policy for the sector: where there will be actions and modules to promote job creation and entrepreneurship. Under this will be the BlackStar Experience, which will be one of the sub-themes to imbue Africanism in Ghanaians and encourage people to come from all over the world to see our arts, tourism and culture.

(3). Renovate Centres of Arts and Culture in the various regions.

(4). To streamline copyright modalities and IP Laws

(5). There will be film festivals where Ghanaian films will be exhibited.

(6) They will also organise arts exhibitions, music shows, fashion programmes

(7) There will be special focus on drama and theatre arts: playwrights will be supported to exhibit their plays

(8) Creatives to attend international trade fairs to exhibit Ghanaian culture and arts.

(9) To pursue the dream of establishing a film village, get equipment at low cost for film makers.

(10) To rehabilitate the National Theatre in Accra and build a second National Theatre in Kumasi.

(11) To acquire a special event channel for the creative arts programmes on digital terrestrial television (DTT), provide a technology that will make that show payable, so people will pay to watch.

(12) To give special rates for performances at Blackstar Square, Accra International Conference Centre and other venues owned by the government.

(13) Encourage the teaching of music and arts in the curriculum: provide trained teachers for such subjects.

(14) Introduce tax breaks for creative artists who have Tax Identification Numbers (TIN).

(15) Formalise a fund for aging artistes.

(16) Revive the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC)

(17) In partnership with the private sector, develop all the tourist sites

(18) Revive the Marine Drive Project

(19) Provide Amusement Parks

(20) Review the tourism fund, make sure it benefits the various stakeholders in the tourism value chain

(21) Build a new city on the banks of the Volta Region with facilities that will generate arts activities and boost tourism.

(22) Hold annual stakeholders dialogue with people in the Creative Arts.