Despite the buzz surrounding President Mahama’s GH¢20 million support package for Ghana’s creative industry, the National Film Authority says the money has not yet reached its accounts.
Deputy Executive Secretary of the NFA, James Gardiner, disclosed that the authority is still waiting for the promised grant but already has plans lined up for how the funds will be used once released.
Speaking to GhanaWeb’s Isaac Dadzie on the red carpet of the 2026 Telecel Ghana Music Awards on May 9, Gardiner described the initiative as a major boost for the local film space and expressed optimism about its impact.
“There’s a lot that the president has done for us by giving us the grant, the GH¢20 million. We’re going to use that to plug into the industry, have capacity-building engagements like workshops, masterclasses and also support producers who don’t have funding to make the kind of quality movies that I’m sure even the president will be proud of as well,” he said.
According to him, the proposed interventions will focus on strengthening skills within the industry while also helping filmmakers who struggle to finance quality productions.
But when asked whether the NFA had already received the allocation, Gardiner gave a straightforward response.
“No, not yet. When it comes, I’ll let you know,” he responded.
His comments are likely to spark fresh conversations about when the highly anticipated funding will finally be disbursed.
For years, stakeholders within Ghana’s film industry have pushed for consistent state-backed financing, arguing that local producers need stronger institutional support to compete on the international stage.
@theghanaweb James Gardiner updates us on the 20 million allocation for the movie industry. #GhanaWeb #GhanaWebTV #TGMA27 ♬ original sound – GhanaWeb
