Ghana turns 70 next year, and the cameras are rolling. What better way to tell the story of the nation’s journey than through the magic of the big screen? That is the thinking behind The 70 Slate, an ambitious three-film collaboration between celebrated filmmakers Shirley Frimpong-Manso and Peter Sedufia, which will take audiences through Ghana’s past, present and future.

The collaboration, spearheaded by award-winning filmmakers Shirley Frimpong-Manso, CEO of Sparrow Studios, and Peter Sedufia, CEO of OldFilm Productions, was officially unveiled at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra on Tuesday, September 8.

The project seeks to use film to celebrate Ghana’s cultural heritage, examine the country’s journey and present stories that reflect where Ghana came from, where it is today and where it could be heading.

It is also being positioned as an opportunity to revive cinema culture across the country while attracting diaspora engagement and tourism and projecting Ghana as a major creative force in Africa’s evolving film industry.

The three films are The Return of Makunse, scheduled for release in December 2026; Nkrumah’s Red, Gold and Green, slated for July 2027; and I Told You So, expected in December 2027.

The first film, The Return of Makunse, explores migration, broken promises and the illusion of a better life in the diaspora.

Nkrumah’s Red, Gold and Green takes audiences back to the eve of Ghana’s independence, capturing the final 24 hours before the historic declaration of independence in March 1957 and the intense circumstances under which the nation was born.

The third production, I Told You So, is a modern remake of the music comedy show, bringing a contemporary interpretation to the project’s celebration of Ghanaian entertainment.

Together, the three films are expected to offer different perspectives on Ghanaian identity, history, society and aspirations.

The project brings together the distinctive strengths of the two production houses, combining Sparrow Studios’ reputation for polished, premium dramas with OldFilm Productions’ flair for engaging storytelling and comedy.

The creative team includes Shirley Frimpong-Manso and Peter Sedufia, alongside experienced industry professionals including Ken Attoh and Araba Sedufia as producers.

Shirley Frimpong-Manso, CEO of Sparrow Studios, and Peter Sedufia, CEO of OldFilm Productions on set of Return of Makunse

The cast

Adding to the significance of the project is a cast that deliberately bridges generations, bringing together some of Ghana’s celebrated veteran actors and emerging talents.

The cast includes Fela Makafui, Augustine Abbey, popularly known as Idi Koko, Kojo Boakye, Lydia Forson, Joselyn Dumas, Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku, Adjetey Anang, Kwame Dzokoto, Priscilla Ahiable, Araba Sedufia, British born Ghanaian actor, Frederick Yeboah among others. 

Casting is still underway, with opportunities available for actors interested in joining the three-film project.

The collaboration reportedly began last year when Peter Sedufia approached Shirley Frimpong-Manso about working together.

What started as a conversation between two established filmmakers has now evolved into a three-film production designed to mark one of the most significant milestones in Ghana’s national history.

“I approached Shirley because I believed that bringing our two creative strengths together could create something truly special. We wanted to tell Ghanaian stories from different perspectives, celebrate where we have come from, reflect on where we are today and imagine where we are going. 

“The 70 Slate is our way of using cinema to celebrate Ghana at 70 while creating films that can travel beyond Ghana and connect with audiences around the world,” Peter Sedufia said. 

At its core, The 70 Slate is intended to be more than an anniversary celebration.

The filmmakers say the project seeks to encourage Ghanaians to reflect on their history and identity, inspire pride and unity, examine how society has evolved and reconnect audiences with the cinema experience.

“We want this project to encourage Ghanaians to reflect on our history and identity, inspire pride and unity, and examine who we have become as a society. We also want to reconnect audiences with the cinema experience and take these Ghanaian stories beyond our borders. 

“So, global distribution and stronger engagement with Ghanaians in the diaspora are very important to us,” Shirley Frimpong Manso noted.

The project is being supported by the National Film Authority (NFA), Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, and the Diaspora Affairs Office of the President (DAOOP).

Its executive producers are Dede Chancellor, media executive and CEO of Chancellor Productions Africa, and Selassie Ibrahim, CEO of Smartys Production.

Brand partners for the project include Nestlé Ghana, GLICO and Silverbird Cinemas.

Through the three productions, the team hopes to entertain audiences at home and abroad while using Ghanaian stories to strengthen the country’s position in Africa’s new cinematic era.

With The Return of Makunse scheduled to open the slate in December, The 70 Slate is set to make Ghana’s 70th Independence anniversary not only a national celebration but also a cinematic one.