The film producers association of Ghana-FIPAG seems not to have resolved to leave foreign production companies that come to Ghana to shoot movies or documentaries alone – despite harsh criticisms from some art critics.
Leadership of FIPAG launched an all out directive for non-Ghanaians who make films in the country without having a work permit – a permit from the Ghana Actors Guild and a permit from FIPAG. The campaign, according to the Public Relations Officer for FIPAG, Michael Kwaku Ola, was meant to protect the Ghanaian movie producers and the industry as a whole and not scare off foreigners.
“People have in the past sneaked in and out of the country to shoot movies and documentaries among others without any work permit or permission from FIPAG. Well guess what, things have changed now. FIPAG, together with the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) will make sure that the right thing is done,” Michael Kwaku Ola told the media some months back.
A movie CD hawker at Opera Square in Accra Central called on GhanaCelebrities.Com to make a report that last week, the FIPAG pounced on some foreign production crew from South Africa who were shooting at Opera Square – bringing business to a halt amidst causing both human and vehicle traffic congestion.
In an interview with the head of the task force team of FIPAG, Mr. Samuel Ampadu, he confirmed to GhanaCelebrities.Com that “it’s true we disrupted a South African production company from shooting at Opera Square after getting notification that they were shooting without permit.
“It was after we stopped them from shooting that they showed us a permit letter from the Ministry of Information.” Per FIPAG’s directive, foreigners who come to Ghana to shoot movies must pay a certain amount of money to the association.