President Mahama pledges GH¢20m injection to revitalize Ghana’s film industry

President John Dramani Mahama has announced a significant financial injection of GH¢20 million into the film sector as part of a broader governmental push to bolster Ghana’s creative industries and leverage “new media” for global recognition.

Delivering his second State of the Nation Address to Parliament on Thursday, February 27, the President confirmed the allocation, stating that the film industry would receive targeted funding under the national budget for culture and tourism.

President Mahama positioned the investment as a strategic move to harness the power of digital-age creatives, whom he credits with enhancing Ghana’s international standing.

“Creatives using the new media are giving our nation greater prominence than we could have achieved through any first-class traditional media outlet,” he told Parliament.

The GH¢20 million fund is part of a wider vision to upgrade the nation’s entertainment infrastructure. A cornerstone of this plan is the refurbishment of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC). The President announced that procurement and integrity assessments are currently underway to restore the venue to its “iconic past,” enabling it to better host national and international events that will benefit both the creative and film sectors.

However, Mr. Mahama acknowledged that the AICC alone is insufficient to meet Ghana’s growing ambitions. He outlined a public-private partnership model to develop a new, world-class facility.

“Work will also commence this year on a befitting convention and creative events centre,” he stated. The goal, he explained, is to position Ghana as West Africa’s premier destination for meetings, conferences, concerts, and entertainment, thereby creating a thriving ecosystem that provides both demand and platforms for the local film industry.

In addition to financial and infrastructural commitments, the President assured the creative community of the government’s full political and diplomatic support in promoting and sustaining the sector’s growth.