Juliet Asante, the former Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority (NFA), has recounted the significant challenges she faced while attempting to build and promote Ghana’s film industry from the ground up.

Miss Asante’s tenure at the helm of the NFA began with little more than a mandate on paper, no office space, and a minimal budget. She recalled the early days when she had to recruit staff with limited resources. “With just a piece of paper in hand, no office, and no funding, I started by assembling a team of two,” Asante said in a recent statement. “I drafted a strategy, but it was clear from the outset that support was lacking, and the journey ahead would be a long and arduous one.”

Financial constraints added to the difficulty. In its first year, the NFA was allocated just GH¢1,000 (approximately $100). The following year, its budget increased to GH¢10,000 (roughly $1,000), but salaries for Asante and her staff were not provided for the first two years. “We funded the operations ourselves and worked out of our homes,” she explained.

Miss Asante also faced a lack of guidance in setting up the new government agency and a strained relationship with a board that was not fully supportive of her leadership.

Despite these hurdles, Miss Asante’s leadership laid the foundation for the NFA, helping to establish a framework for the country’s film industry.

Source:TheDotNews