“You Cannot Write A Script With A Private Jet In It” – Kofi Asamoah

Ghana's film industry continues to lag behind due to insufficient funding.

In a discussion on 3Music TV's Culture Daily, renowned Film Director Kofi Asamoah revealed that this difficulty makes it impossible to produce standard movies because scripts are written to suit budgets rather than to actualize great ideas.

“Do you know that here, you cannot write a script with a private jet in it? You write to budget. You don’t write to ideas. Do you know the ideas in our heads? Someone brought me a script we should go and do a story about J.J. Rawlings, go do a story about Kwame Nkrumah. When you look at the story, do you think we have that kind of money to make the film? How can I write a script with the guy flying the helicopter and the helicopter pass somewhere and they landed on some island? Nice idea but the geography in which you find yourself won’t permit you to bring this to life.” he said.

He claimed that countries with thriving industries have prioritized funding it at the national level.

“There’s a subconscious state effort. When you go to Nigeria, Lagos State has a fund for filmmakers. The way you give sports attention in this country, when the minister is reading the national budget they mention figures for sports. They are specific. World Cup we are spending this much. We do not do the same for film.”

Kofi Asamoah believes things would improve once the government makes a concerted effort to fund the industry. 

Regulators have been established over time to oversee the sector, but stakeholders feel little has changed.