The process to get the Film Bill passed into law started in 2013 when the then Ministry of Information and Media Relations submitted the reviewed cinematography act to cabinet to seek its approval to provide the machinery to streamline the film industry in Ghana.

Mrs Elizabeth Ofusu-Adjare said the new bill called for the establishment of new structures to help streamline the affairs of the movie industry in the country.

“Some of these include the National Film Authority and its governing board, the Film Development Fund as well as committees such as the Film Classification Committee to perform certain functions,” she said.

She said with these structures in place together with the appropriate regulations, Ghanaians would once again take control of the film industry.

“We will also regulate the industry to ensure quality films are produced and our actors and actresses will once again be respected and not be subject to abuse by some unscrupulous foreign film producers,” she added.

Veteran film producer, Kwaw Ansah and one of the resource people behind the bill expressed his joy at the passage of the bill. “I think it is a very important bill considering that film is a very important tool for development. For the past 25 years, numerous governments have failed to pass this bill but it is finally here,” he said.

“To me this is one of my happiest moments and I hope practitioners of the industry do not just go out there and do things that are not relevant. Their actions or inactions can led to either the progress or stagnation of our development,” he said.