James Aboagye
The President of the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG), James Aboagye, has stated that films that portray the heritage of Ghana do not do well in the film market.
He revealed this on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, explaining why most filmmakers do not prioritise showcasing Ghana’s cultural history in their work.
According to him, films that depict Ghana’s legacy don’t sell on movie global market, adding that if they want to design the storyline to promote Ghana, that would require a different approach.
He expressed concern that Ghanaian filmmakers have not been able to fully exploit the potential of the country’s legacy by portraying that aspect of it in their works.
He revealed that sometimes it’s even difficult for filmmakers to enter historic locations.
“Why do you have to hustle before doing this? When you try to use some of these heritages [sites], you go there and the authorities in charge will frustrate your effort,” he said.
He stated that when the scenes are captured for their films, the authorities solely consider the money the film producers would make from the films rather than how they will be able to sell the heritage sites.
The FIPAG President also hinted that some of these cultural sites impose astronomical admission costs.
“You must pay a fee that increases your budget. Not that we are unwilling to pay; we are. We are willing to pay; however, one of our worries is the promotional costs they levy.
While we are in Ghana, you must pay in dollars to use the Ghana Airport after visiting tourist destinations including Boti, Kintampo, and Kakum. We are from Ghana. We employ Cedis. When you visit there, you are in Ghana. We are Ghanaians. We use Cedis. When you go there you are asked to pay in dollars,” he told the host.