Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Member of Parliament (MP) of Ketu South and Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, has donated production equipment worth GH₵100,000 to film and comedy groups in the area.
This is a significant support to the growth and development of the creative arts industry in her constituency.
The donation, which aimed at empowering young creatives and talented youths, included a comprehensive set of professional production tools such as camera equipment, sound equipment, lighting equipment, and accessories.
Other items included a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV camera body, Canon EF 24-105mm and Canon EF 70-200mm lenses, boom microphones, headphones, and lighting kits to enhance the quality and marketability of their productions.
Madam Gomashie, during a ceremony at Aflao, emphasised the importance of nurturing the creative potential of the constituents.
“It is always good to appreciate and highlight the potential for Ewe movies to thrive locally and internationally, given the widespread use of the Ewe language in four African countries, including Ghana, Togo, Benin, and parts of Nigeria,” she said.
She explained that the donation was to demonstrate the commitment to promote the creative arts industry in the Ketu South constituency and was expected to have a positive impact on the lives of young creatives in the area.
It would provide them with the necessary tools and support to pursue their passion, she said.
She said that with the support, the growth and development of the creative arts industry would contribute to the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage and the creation of jobs for young people.
Mr Ivan Quashigah, a renowned Ghanaian filmmaker and creative director, who was the special guest of the event, commended Madam Gomashie for her visionary support and pledged to provide training to the beneficiaries on the effective use of the equipment.
He also hinted that there would be more collaboration in the future with creative arts groups to enhance the quality of their productions.
Mr Blackmoore Ayivor, a seasoned actor from Ketu South, thanked the MP on behalf of the group and pledged that they would make good use of the equipment to improve on the skills and talents of various participants and appealed for a greater collaboration and unity among filmmakers in the Volta region to uplift the standard of local productions.
“The equipment donated will undoubtedly enhance the quality of productions from the Ketu South constituency, and with proper care and maintenance, the equipment will serve for a long time, to enable us to produce high-quality content that showcases the rich cultural heritage of Volta.”
The move by Madam Gomashie was seen as a model for other leaders to follow in promoting the creative arts industry and her commitment to empowering young creatives and promoting local content was commendable and worthy of emulation.
The creative groups called for more support from other stakeholders to promote the creative arts industry in the area to flourish and contribute to the local economy and promote cultural heritage of the country.
Mr Nicolas Worklachie (Ezo), the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ketu South, also urged the creative groups to produce compelling and educational storylines that reflected the culture, values, and aspirations of the people of Ketu South.