Socrates Safo
The Film Classification Committee of the National Film Authority has given ultimatum to TV stations and other stakeholders to classify their works or risk punishment.
According to a statement signed by the committee’s chairman, Socrates Safo, “From May 1, 2021, no television station, cinema theatre or movie screening centre shall show any unclassified audio-visual content.”
Among such audio-visual contents that can’t be aired include feature films, short films, TV series, selected TV programmes, documentaries, advertisements, music videos meant for public exhibition and broadcasting.
The directive is in line with the Development and Classification of Film Act 935, which says “all audio-visual content shall be previewed and classified before exhibition” in Ghana.
Socrates added that the committee also arrived at this decision after several consultations with various stakeholders of the audio-visual industry in Ghana.
“A right owner, licensee or assignee who desires to exhibit an audio-visual content shall submit the content to the Film Classification Committee for examination and classification at least twenty-one days before the intended exhibition. Anyone who fails to comply with the set rules shall be subject to the Offences and Penalties in Section 27 of the Development and Classification of Film Act 935,” the statement indicated.
By Francis Addo