The Ghana Film Bill which has been in the drafting stage for many years is about to see the light of the day – to revise the Cinematograph Act 1961 (Act76).

Stakeholders in the Ghana film industry, in the capacities of: scriptwriters, art writers, directors, producers, executive producers, musicians, politicians, etc. met at the W. E. B. Du Bois Center to brainstorm, validate and make professional inputs into the Bill for onward submission to cabinet and parliament to be passed into law.

Aside seeking to revise the Cinematograph Act 1961 (Act76), the Ghana Film Bill is in to provide the legal framework for the development of a congenial environment in Ghana as a major film base for local productions and to also make it a preferred for international as well as co-productions between Ghanaians and foreign products.

The Bill ensures the establishment of a National Film Authority – to promote the creation of a conductive environment for the local production, distribution, exhibition and marketing of films, amongst others, a Film Development Fund – provide financial support for development and production of full-length, short and medium-length feature films, television productions, cinema theatre development, etc. and Administration, Financial and Miscellaneous provisions.

The Bill looks promising and also has the interest of the nation’s film industry and the society at large well detailed. For instance, a particular salient portion of the Bill which has been a bother to many entertainment polymaths as far Ghanaian movies are concerned is the portrayal of nudity – which some choose to refer to as p*rn*graphic as well as the protection of children from adult contents, especially at movie screening, exhibition and premiering centers.

The Bill caters for that in well detailed dictions. According to Section 20: “the Board shall not approve for exhibition, a film it considers to be p*rn*graphic.” Unfortunately, the actual meaning of what a p*rn*graphic movie is, is left to the discretion of the Board who will sit and decide.

Osarfo Anthony of GhanaCelebrities.Com who was invited in the capacity of Arts Writer and a Screenwriter, later, drew the attention of the PRO of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Prince Boakye-Boateng to the fact that, that portion of the Bill should be checked – the p*rn*graphy should be well defined so that filmmakers would do the right thing and not be ambushed with a definition when they want to classify their movies.

Also, aside Section 19 (5) which classifies movies as U – Universal for all categories of persons, subsections (b, c, d, e respectively) rated PG, 12, 15, and 18 prevents children from entering film exhibition centers. Indeed, Section 23 (1, 2, and 3 respectively) stresses that: “a person shall not attend a film exhibition which that person is not qualified to attend by virtue of the classification of the film under section 19 (5).

“A person, who exhibits a film under a license issued under this Act, shall not permit another person who is disqualified by virtue of classification of film to enter or remain on the premises where the exhibition is taking place.”

It continues that: “Where the exhibitor of a film is of the opinion that a person who wishes to enter or remain on the premises or theatre for the exhibition is disqualified by virtue of the classification, the exhibitor shall refund the entrance fee paid by that person and send that person away from their premises or theatre.”

Meaning, parents can no longer send their babies, toddlers, or infants into the auditoriums of National Theater or Silverbird Cinemas to watch movie premiers or even keep such wards on or around the premises of movie premiering centers whilst they watch movies.

In attendance, were: Madam Dzifa Gomashie (Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts), Dr. Chris Hesse (GAFTA – Prison Ministry), Ernest Abbeyquaye (Trumpet Films, Asare Hackman (FIPAG President), Mr. Michael Attipoe (Director, F&A, National Commission on Culture), Ekow Micah (President of Music Council of Ghana), Osarfo Anthony (Arts Writer – Razz Newspaper and GhanaCelebrities.Com), and others.