The Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts (GAFTA) has donated GH₵100,000 to the National Film Authority (NFA) to support cinema development and infrastructure across the country.
The cheque presentation, held at the NFA’s Conference Hall, wasn’t just a financial transaction — it was a symbolic moment of reconnection between generations of filmmakers and a signal of renewed commitment to Ghana’s cinematic future.
The donation stems from usage fees paid by Breakwater Studios, a California-based production company, for archival footage featured in a documentary on Ghanaian film pioneer Rev. Chris Hesse. That revenue is now being reinvested back into the Ghanaian industry — a rarity, and for many, a long-overdue practice.
“This is the beginning of a new chapter in the development of our young but very promising National Film Authority,” said GAFTA President Dr Fara Awindor. “Sustaining the NFA requires consistent support — not just from within the creative industry, but from all corners of society.”
Dr Awindor also underlined GAFTA’s broader mission: safeguarding Ghana’s cinematic heritage. That includes advocating for the digitisation of film archives stored abroad, particularly at Iron Mountain in the UK — a project long championed by Rev. Chris Hesse.
“Preserving our film legacy isn’t just about nostalgia. It’s about education, research, national identity — and yes, economic potential,” he said.
The GH₵100,000 will go directly into the NFA’s Film Development Fund, earmarked for cinema-related initiatives and infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of iconic venues like the historic Rex Cinema — Ghana’s first state-owned movie theatre, acquired under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Receiving the cheque, NFA’s Head of Business Development and Marketing, Mr. Kofi Adinkra, described the donation as “deeply meaningful.”
“You are the roots of this institution,” he told GAFTA representatives, many of whom are veteran filmmakers. “Seeing this calibre of industry leadership together in one room is something I haven’t witnessed since this authority was conceptualised.”
Also present were NFA Legal Counsel Jamila Arthur and Accountant Georgina Aziedoime, alongside GAFTA’s Public Relations Officer George Bosompim, who revealed that the donation was part of a larger conversation about shared responsibility and industry sustainability.
“We told you we would return — and we’re here, not just with words, but with action,” Bosompim said.
The atmosphere in the room was one of optimism and pride. The presence of long-standing creatives — some of whom helped lay the foundation of Ghana’s film landscape — was a reminder that the story of Ghanaian cinema is still being written.
For GAFTA, this is just the beginning. “Let’s build structures that honour our past, support our present, and shape our future,” said Dr Awindor.
In a climate where funding for the arts is often scarce, this moment stands out — not only as a financial boost, but as a call to unify, preserve, and reimagine what Ghanaian cinema can become.
