Kumawood Filmmakers Kick Against Film Village At Kyebi

Kumawood, Ghana’s Akan-speaking movie industry, has expressed disappointed with government’s decision to site the proposed Film Village, promised ahead of the 2016 general elections, at Kyebi in the Eastern Region.

Consequently, the faction, on Wednesday, presented a petition to Parliament in protest against the initiative.
Government had, during the 2019 budget statement, hinted of its intention to construct a Film Village for the movie industry, when Finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta disclosed that a 200-acre plot of land had already been acquired at Kyebi for the project.

But the Kumawood team, led by Nana Ama McBrown, maintained that Kumasi, capital of the Ashanti Region, which is currently the hub for the production of local movies, is the best location for the intended Village.

According to them, the chief of Hemang, husband of actress Mercy Aseidu and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, are both willing to give the industry acres of land for the new Film Village.

”We respectfully present our petition to your August house, against the establishment of film village at Amanfrom Akyem Abuakwa in the Eastern Region. Ashanti Region is known to produce a large majority of Ghana films, with narratives centered on our culture and societal issues.

”The Film Industry, based in the Ashanti Region, is affectionately called KUMAWOOD, which does not only produce films in the Akan language, but also films made in English, Hausa, Frafra, Dagomba, Ewe among others. The Ashanti Region plays an important role in the history of the Ghanaian Film Industry; one which cannot be ignored.” part of the petition read.

It added that: ”We as filmmakers, know what film villages contribute to the nation’s GDP. It therefore makes business sense to site it in a location where it could be put to its outmost use. We believe that with film activity not vibrant in the eastern region of Ghana, siting the village there will only make it a white elephant and a gross misplacement of government resources.

”We are deeply concerned about the downward effects that establishing a film village elsewhere will bring to the industry”.

Receiving the petition on behalf of Parliament, Majority Leader, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, assured the petitioners that their concerns would be forwarded to the Speaker of Parliament for appropriate action to be taken.

He appreciated the important role movie producers and actors play in the economy, and commended them for their efforts.

In an interview with The New Publisher, Movie Producer, Ola Michael, said many people have already expressed interests in making the film village building in the Ashanti Region a success including the Asantehene Osei Tutu.

”When we talk about the movie Industry, it’s about Kumawood, so why building a film village at Kyebi? What has Kyebi got to do with the Ghana movie Industry? We want the Ministry of Tourism including all other sectors to know the value in building the Film village in Kumasi” he said.

Asked why they did not speak to the Minister in charge of Creative Arts, he explained, the leadership of the team had had several meetings with the Minister on the issue but, they had not gotten any positive response.

The construction of the film village is part of measures to make the industry in Ghana more vibrant and to provide it with the necessary resources needed to make filmmaking more attractive and productive.