Ghana High Commissioner to India H.E Michael Aaron N. N. Oquaye Esq (Jnr) on the June 5, 2018, witnessed the signing in ceremony between the Film Directors Guild of Ghana (FDGG) led by its President, Mr. Richard Yaw Boateng and the President of the International Chamber of Media and Entertainment Industry, Mr Sandeep Marwah at the Film City, Noida, India.
In the High Commissioner’s speech, he indicated that the President of the republic of Ghana, H.E Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo has charged the Film Directors Guild of Ghana to negotiate and engage the Indian film Producers and Investors to come help shoot film in Ghana which will boost film making, promote our tourist sites and help us learn international standards in film making.
It was on this note that Michael Oquaye Jnr and his team, invited the FDGG with support of the Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture, Mrs Catherine Agbelema Afeku to help the film industry of Ghana.
The meeting was under the auspices of the FDGG National President, Mr. Richard Yaw Boateng together with his executives, Mr. Daniel Fiifi Jayden – Director of Communications, Rev. Ernest Ackom – Ag. General Secretary and Mr. Haruna Seidu Soale – Greater Accra Regional Chairman, to engage the film industry in India to prioritise an Indo-Ghana Film collaboration which will enhance movie productions in Ghana.
As part of the bilateral relationships between the two industries and the exceptional facilitation of the High Commissioner the delegation had the opportunity to meet the Chancellor of the Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT) University, who also doubles as the President of the International Chamber of Media and Entertainment Industry (ICMEI), Mr Sandeep Marwah.
An Indo-Ghana film and Cultural forum was hosted and organised by the ICMEI which had dignitaries from NASA, Parliament of India and Our High Commission.
Under the Forum an MOU was signed between the ICMEI and the FDGG on behalf of the Industry, which was facilitated by the High Commissioner to India, Michael Oquaye Jnr, which included but not limited to supporting the development and growth of indigenous Ghanaian film and media by collaborating with the Ghana film industry among others.
A scholarship programme was also launched named “The Gabo Scholarship” for film makers from Ghana to take 3 months sandwich courses in filming to better themselves and the industry.