Issues regarding the renaming of the Ghana Movie Industry from Ghallywood to Gollywood seem unending as Creative Arts of Ghana, Film Crew Association of Ghana (FICAG), Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) have all dissociated themselves from the new brand.
A press statements by all these group clearly indicate that as stakeholders of the movie industry, they were not aware of the rebranding process by Richard Boateng of the Film Directors Guild of Ghana (FDGG).
According to the groups, Mr. Boateng seeks for attention instead of thinking of the development and the well-being of the industry through effective and efficient collective consultation.
Background
Ghana Movie Industry which was called Ghallywood has been renamed by officials as Gollywood.
Announcement of the New name change was made at the 2nd Edition of the Ghana 60 Years on Film Summit. The event took place at the Accra International Conference Center yesterday 12th July, 2018.
The program was held under the theme “Rebranding Ghana Film Industry to Rebrand Ghana”. Several great personalities such as film actors and actresses, directors and producers were present to grace the occasion.
Movie Veterans were also honored as the event in recognition of how much of great works they have blessed the industry with.
Read the Press Releases below.
FILM PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (FIPAG)
PRESS RELEASE
17/07/2018
FIPAG DISSOCIATES FROM MR. RICHARD BOATENG AS WELL AS HIS FDGG, GOLLYWOOD, M.O.U. WITH INDIANS AND HIS CLAIM AS A LEADER OF AN APEX BODY IN THE FILM INDUSTRY.
The FILM PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (FIPAG) has decided to withdraw its support for activities undertaken by Richard Boateng of the Film Directors Guild of Ghana (FDGG). It is for that reason that FIPAG boycotted the recent Film Summit he organized.
This decision is based on a number of reasons that have come to light following initial discussions between the FIPAG executive members on the summit and related matters.
Before Richard Boateng and a few FDGG members traveled to India, we (the executive members of FIPAG) realized that Mr. Richard Boateng had failed to reveal a lot of crucial information to us with regards to the trip and the summit. He does otherwise when advised and it was clear that he was NOT thinking of a collaboration at all. It was realized that Mr. Richard Boateng was staging a one-man show. This is also evident on the awards presented. He is the only signatory. Even though, he was funded by our sector ministry, he insisted that FIPAG should fund its participation in the trip. He did not disclose the fact that the trip had been prefinanced. In view of his attitude, FIPAG broke away from the trip and stopped attending the pre-summit meetings. It is strange that he went ahead and unveiled the name “Gollywood” without recourse to FIPAG. This is a name which had been discussed on the FIPAG MEMBERS PLATFORM and it is yet to be endorsed by other industry players. Mr. Richard Boateng, we can all see as someone fighting for attention instead of thinking of the development and the well-being of our industry through effective and efficient collective consultation.
We condemn Mr. Boateng’s announcement of “Gollywood” as the name of the Ghanaian movie industry.
FIPAG has, therefore, stated categorically that we are NOT a party to any of the schemes of Mr. Boateng and his FDGG.
Finally, we would like to sound a word of caution to him to avoid holding himself as a sole representative of the Ghanaian movie industry.
Signed on behalf of the Executive Members and the General Members of FIPAG.
Augustine Abbey
( President )
Rosaline Osei
(Public Relations Officer)
Zakaria Abdulai
(General Secretary)
PRESS RELEASE! PRESS RELEASE!!
The National Executives and the entire membership of the Film Crew Association of Ghana, (FICAG) wish to DISASSOCIATE itself from the supposed new name for the Ghana film Industry.
We as an association had nothing to do with the planning, discussions or whatsoever that led to the conclusion on that name. We are very surprised, however, to hear our good name being associated with the events that led to the launch of the new supposed name of the film industry.
We wish to vehemently espouse our disdain for this new name and DISASSOCIATE ourselves accordingly from it.
We would like to reiterate that none of our members or executives have ever being part of any meetings or discussions that led to the realisation of this supposed new name.
Please disregard any information that metions FICAG as supporting this name.
Thank you.
Signed
Lious Saa Acquahman
Communication Dir.
0557725579
Cc
All media houses
All film stakeholders and associations
Ministry of tourism, arts and culture
GHANA ACTORS’ GUILD DISSOCIATION FROM GOLLYWOOD AS THE NEW NAME FOR GHANA FILM INDUSTRY
After carefully considering events that led to the Ghana 60 years on Film Summit and juxtaposing it against what transpired at the aforementioned event, we of the Ghana Actors’ Guild wish to state our reservation in no uncertain terms and to dissociate from the proposed new name for the film industry for Ghana.
With the advent of all major Stakeholders of Film coming together to ask and work towards the full operationalisation of Film Act 935, the Ghana Actors’ Guild decided to support the Film Directors Guild of Ghana as they sought to organize the second edition of the Film Summit 2018.
We want to categorically state that we delegated a member of the National Executive Committee to represent us on the planning committee for the summit. We supported them all the way but did not know that the industry was to be given a new name at the summit that just ended. It came to us as a surprise since we had not been earlier consulted in that regard.
The Ghana Actors’ Guild believes that the organization of a summit to assess the film industry of Ghana and to proffer pragmatic solutions to challenges bedeviling our film industry is a step in the right direction but find it difficult to fathom the fact that key stakeholders were not consulted for a collective decision to be taken. We believe in the need to build consensus on all issues if we seek to rebuild our film industry.
The sight of certain names on the programme for the summit and the promotional materials circulated gave us the rather wrong impression that the organizers had broadly consulted and gotten the support of all major stakeholders of Film in this country.
We would want to state that we are not in favour of the way this whole issue has been conducted and dissociate the Ghana Actors’ Guild from the name Gollywood that the summit sought to call our industry. Our reasons are very simple. There is the need for broad consultation amongst all key Stakeholders in any decisions that concern our industry. Also, we are of the view that we, as industry stakeholders, must be concerned with putting in place all required structures, logistics and facilities and make things right again rather than what to call an industry that is almost non-existent.
A lot of work has been done over the weeks to reposition the Ghana Film Industry as a preferred destination for film. The current wind of unity amongst key stakeholders, especially by the Task Team set up by Hon. Catherine Abelema Afeku, The Minister for Tourism, Art and Culture must be built upon in ensuring that the film industry stands on its feet again.
On this note, as we reiterate our dissociation from the name Gollywood, we want to ask all sympathizers of Film to collectively Marshall forces to rebuild our film industry.
Thank you
Signed
SAMUEL FISCIAN
PRESIDENT
cc:
0. THE HON MINISTER
MINISTRY OF TOURISM, ART AND CULTURE
ACCRA
0. ALL FILM STAKEHOLDERS
0. ALL MEDIA HOUSES
