People & Lifestyle

Black Star International Film Festival writes letter to Nana Akuffo Addo

Published

6 years ago

August 22, 2018

Juliet Asante, President of the Black Star International Film Festival and Board Chair of NAFTI has written an open letter to the president of the Republic of Ghana. She prepared the speech in anticipation of the President’s presence at the Gala Awards at the just ended international film festival, and still read it though the President was not present, with the hope that the message would reach His Excellency. In the letter, Miss Asante, who is a director and scriptwriter herself sought to “guide” the imagination of President Akuffo Addo to recognise the potential the film industry holds and how these potentials can be tapped to significantly boost the tourism industry, contribute immensely to job creation and ultimately drive the nation’s development. She employed a “what if” game in the letter to point out some opportunities she describes as “low hanging fruits” and advocates for policies that would help the local film industry take advantage of them for significant growth of the sector. Your Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, you always wanted to be a filmmaker I understand. Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo herself, on a warm afternoon, under the hot Ghanaian sun, whispered this into my ears…. If this is true, than using today’s technology, perhaps virtual reality, let me take you into my world a minute Mr. President. I welcome your excellency to take the director’s chair with me. Mr. President, now close your eyes and imagine that this happens on your next flight. As you go through the list of films you can watch on the flight, you see the poster of ‘Rescue list’ or ‘Both saved’ or ‘Corruption’ or ‘Ghana for you’ or ‘Vagabonds’… All films from Ghana, that made it through this year’s festival. Or even my own film, ‘Silverain’. You realize that the list of films you just saw on the entertainment menu are all from Ghana. Mr. President, you make a mental note of the number of people who worked on these films. As the list goes on, it soon hits you that film actually employs a lot of people! You then vaguely remember that there was a time when Ghana in fact had a very vibrant film industry to be proud of. An industry that was pulling significant revenue into the country via co-productions. But then we had to go and sell the Ghana Film Corporation, Mr. President. Ghana sold off the backbone of an entire sector! But, Mr President, we now have a unique opportunity in time to reset history.As they say, film is a mirror of society, film can also be soothsayer and so imagine that this is a movie you are watching now and that in this movie, we are playing a game of what ifs. So, what if Ghana had a policy that mandated our local channels to invest and transmit a minimum of 50% local content for instance? My answer? What this would do is that suddenly the networks will not have a choice but to come up with innovative ideas to generate content and to work with local producers. This will mean that more productions will be done locally which will create jobs for many young people. Film is the second employer in Nigeria after Agriculture, proving to us that with the right interventions, it is possible that film can open up huge opportunities for employment In Ghana. Imagine for instance if Black Panther or even one of the avengers had shot in Ghana. Or even imagine that we made a good case for Tyler Perry to shoot movies in Ghana, or we made a case for Netfilks for instance to invest some of its significant money into Ghana via co-productions. Mr. President, this is what I call low hanging fruits. Any of the scenarios we have painted can easily pull into Ghana over hundred million dollars easily. Black panther cost over 200 million dollars to make. That could have been money in one of the banks in Ghana, as we speak, and we all know what that would do for the economy. This movie could have easily employed over 10,000 individuals and supported over a million households. The skill set of all the individuals working on that production would have been improved. This skill transfer will immediately impact the skill of our local sector and this will translate immediately into what we see on our TV stations and Cinemas. Because of the key on the job training, the quality of our local productions will improve immediately. This will also translate into the number of productions we make. Quality plus the right quantity can only translate into income as filmmakers and producers will then be able to sell on the international market which will earn revenue for the country. Have we stopped to ask ourselves how much Hollywood earns for America annually? Right next door in the Nigeria, Nollywood contributes over 7billion dollars annually to GDP. Ghana can ride on films made here to brand itself and sell itself to the world. People will visit Ghana because of this exposure, as they would want to see the location of the shoot. This is called film Tourism. Let me give you just two examples. When “Mission Impossible 2” was shot in Sydney national park, tourism numbers went up by over 200% in just one year! And when “Braveheart” was shot in Scotland, tourism numbers Increased by over 300% in just one year. Now let us touch a little bit on the impact of the images we see on our screens on the minds of the people. For the diplomatic community here and those who are affected by the sad migration crisis plaguing Europe, what I can say to you, is that do not be surprised. For the media and films have painted your lands as overflowing with gold! Even though both of us know that you may have slums in your country. For instance, the Ghanaian who has grown up on movies like ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Notting Hill’, etc knows no such thing! And sometimes I laugh about this, but for Mexico and India and other countries that have telenovelas thriving in Ghana, don’t be surprised if the migration crisis pivots into Mexico and India in the next 10 years because we do tend to follow the images we see on screens and rightly so. The question is, what lessons does this carry for us as a people? Perhaps as an industry also, it is time to look more at empowering stories around us that can both motivate, enlighten and inform our people. We need to hear and see stories that highlight home grown solutions and effort. Let us also do business amongst ourselves in the sub-region. If there was one thing that making Silverain taught me, it is that you need a core audience for your work. Shooting Silverain, using casts from 5 African countries, meant that I immediately had access to 5 countries that did not necessarily require me to have a passport to travel to, to promote and sell my film. What can we learn from countries that are way ahead of us in this, like South Africa and Nigeria? Can we have film treaties with these countries to begin with? The digital age is here. Where is the conversation around digital distribution and the e-economy? We have a film policy framework that is still very much stuck in the 1970s, when we have time travelled into 2018! Content they say is the new oil! And government needs to step up its support in real ways to the sector. As we invest in infrastructure, lets also pay attention to the content we are offering to both the locals and the international community. Because no one will leave Ghana claiming that we have the best roads and hotels for instance, but they are very likely to speak about a great experience, which I must point out, comes from content! I am very happy to see that efforts like what we are doing at BSIFF, Chalewote, Adinkra festival, Atuu festival and many others, especially around August and September is beginning to position Ghana already as the holiday and festival destination and where you need to be in August. Government needs to support these activities and go further to make some real investments in content. For instance, research shows that for every 3 dollar the German Government puts in Belinale and other key festivals in Germany, it gets over 20 dollars back. I will say that this is very good return on investment. Yes I call it investment. Because it is just that, investment! I remember going to Takoradi those days to shoot ‘Deadly voyage’ – even the hotels could not accommodate the numbers. The hospitality sector made quite a bit from the production. Mr. President we need data research, we need tax rebate, film treaties, a holding body for the sector like the film authority – since we no longer have Ghana film corporation. We need Ghana to sell Ghana at every point. The sector can provide content to show in the lobbies of Ghanaian embassies worldwide. What a waste to walk into a Ghana embassy in DC for instance and to watch CNN in the lobby, when Ghana could be taking the opportunity to sell itself to the many people who visit the embassy for some service. As the Board Chairperson of the National film and television Institute (NAFTI), I can say for sure that the school is committed to continuing to provide the backbone in training that industry needs to stand on its feet and it is our hope that the gears will finally begin to shift into place. At the Black Star International film Institute, it is our pride to organize the Black Star International Film Festival every year as we welcome the world to Ghana. We are committed to working with other players to help situate Ghana as a festival and holiday destination and to help create global connections through film whiles connecting the world through cinema and to African Cinema. We are committed to advocating for industry friendly policies and Mr. President, you are a father who listens. This is the time Mr. President. You hold a unique opportunity in time to not only right some missteps and perhaps misjudgment. Under your leadership, we know that the sector will experience a reset that puts it on the path that empowers the sector’s contribution to Ghana, Africa and the world. Thank you Mr. President Your humble daughter Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante

Board Chair of the National Film and Television Institute
Founder of the Black Star International Film Institute (Festival)”

Written by Baba Labanti]]>

People & Lifestyle

Kobina Ansah’s IN THE PANTS OF A WOMAN Is Happening This Weekend At National Theatre

Published

3 mins ago

April 20, 2024

Ameyaw Debrah

Playwright Kobina Ansah’s much-talked-about play, IN THE PANTS OF A WOMAN, is slated for this weekend at National Theatre. A musical with 16 original songs, the play highlights the rape culture of Ghana and how our society has condoned abusers for far too long.

“Rape is a taboo topic in our society and we hope, through this play, to demystify it and normalize conversations around it. By so doing, many victims can speak out,” Kobina Ansah opines.

The play is suitable for all ages of people. It is an educative piece which seeks to tackle toxic narratives that promote a culture of rape.

IN THE PANTS OF A WOMAN is Ghana’s first-ever original musical on rape. It is scheduled to be shown at National Theatre on Saturday, 20th and Sunday, 21st April, 2024. Showing times are 3pm and 7pm each day.

Source: Scribe News

People & Lifestyle

Is Nighttime Skincare Different From Your Daytime Routine?

Published

32 mins ago

April 20, 2024

Ameyaw Debrah

Most of us know that we need to wash our face at least once a day and apply some moisturizer in the morning. If you want truly ageless, beautiful skin, you need to do a bit more than that. Both daytime and nighttime skincare routines are a crucial part of maintaining healthy skin.

Importance Of Nighttime Skincare

Why does nighttime skincare matter? When you are asleep, the repair systems of your body go to work. Your skin gets more blood flow. DNA helps to repair cells. Collagen increases. By adding a nighttime skincare routine, you assist your body in its rebuilding job. Here are some basic steps you can adapt and adjust for your evening skincare regimen:

Remove makeup.
Gently clean your skin.
Exfoliate two or three nights per week.
Apply a serum.
Moisturize.
Apply eye cream.

Look for products that work with your skin type, such as the best night moisturizer for oily skin. You can also choose serums that target specific problem areas. Worried about your neck? There’s a serum for that.

Differences Between Day And Night Skincare

Your morning skincare routine should be all about protecting the skin. You need to get it ready for the day ahead. First, you will cleanse it. Then think about what your skin will face that day. Sun? You need a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Pollutants? You need a protective serum. Overly dry indoor air? You need a strong moisturizer.

At night your skincare should help calm and heal your skin. Skin rollers are good for soothing and increasing blood flow. Masks remove impurities. Nighttime serums should heal and rebuild.

Sleep is an important part of your skincare. Lack of good sleep contributes to stress which manifests itself in your skin. Failure to sleep prevents your body from performing the rebuilding process.

When sleep proves to be allusive, try the following:

Calming herbal teas, like chamomile, before bedtime
Yoga or other meditative practices
Avoiding all electronic devices an hour before bedtime
Natural sleep aids, such as melatonin strips
Reducing the temperature of your bedroom

A healthy nighttime skincare regimen can be a part of your day’s winding down and prepare you for a good sleep.

Anti-Aging Skincare

Skin showing signs of aging also benefits from day and night routines. If your skin is thinning, wrinkling in excess, developing age spots, or becoming abnormally dry, it’s time to use skincare products specifically for aging.

The best skin care for aging skin will include moisturizers that improve collagen synthesis and serums with hyaluronic acid. Check for ingredients that lessen sun spots and fine lines around the eyes. An evening mask can deliver an extra-potent shot of moisture.

Are you ready to improve your skincare routine? Visit local retailers to try out product samples. Search online brands for a wider variety of specialty skincare options. Whichever products you choose, create morning and evening regimens that work with your schedule and your body. If it’s too difficult, you won’t maintain it. Simplicity is key to success.

People & Lifestyle

MTN Climax Eidul Fitr with Cultral Day Celebration

Published

4 hours ago

April 20, 2024

Ameyaw Debrah

Salihu Abu of MTN Senior Manager for Customer Relations and Credit Management presenting the items to Alhaj Latif PRO of the National Chief Imam

MTN Ghana concluded this year’s Eidul Fitr celebrations with cultural events in Accra Newtown and Kumasi. The cultural events brought together various ethnic groups in the communities to showcase their rich culture in vibrant durbars.

Leaders of the ethnic groups led their delegations with traditional performances. The event featured live performances from dance groups and artists during the durbars. The cultural day platforms were used to share goodwill messages and to address community issues. In Kumasi, chiefs paraded from the central Mosque through Manhyia, Allabar, and ended at Kumasi Zongo. Health screening exercises were also included in the activities. Residents were screened for Hepatitis B, Blood Pressure, HIV, Malaria, and had their sugar levels checked.

In addition to these activities, the CEO of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, in solidarity, celebrated with Muslim employees at MTN House. MTN Regional leadership also held similar engagements with Muslim employees in all 16 regions.

Before the cultural day, MTN Ghana presented food items and cash to the National Chief Imam, His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Usmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, and Regional Chief Imams in Ashanti, Western, and Northern regions. This year, a total of GHS100,000 was committed to the purchase of items for the celebration of Eidul Fitr in the three regions. The items presented included rice, cartons of vegetable oil, packs of mineral water, soft drinks, rams, and cash.

In Accra, Salihu Abu, Senior Manager for Customer Relations and Credit Management, led the delegation to the National Chief Imam and expressed his appreciation on behalf of MTN for the support, patronage, and loyalty of MTN’s customers across the country. He expressed gratitude for their continued support of MTN’s activities and the warm reception the company has received over the years.

The National Chief Imam, Dr. Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, received the items and thanked MTN for its continuous support. He also prayed for the company’s success, saying, “We are grateful for this gesture that you have done. May Allah increase your business and activities.”

The donations in the Ashanti, Western, and Northern regions were led by Mr. Simon Amoh, Senior Manager Regional Sales, Prince Owusu Nyarko, Senior Manager Southwest, and Kwame Aseye Akude, Manager Retail Experience Northern Business District.

MTN has been supporting the Muslim Community for 16 years during Eid-ul Fitr celebrations through donations and the organization of events in Nima, Accra New Town, Kumasi, Kasoa, and Tamale. The company also supports the National Hajj Board annually in the organization of the pilgrimage to Mecca.

People & Lifestyle

Gavi and UNICEF welcome approval of new oral cholera vaccine

Published

24 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Ameyaw Debrah

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF welcome the news that a new oral cholera vaccine (OCV), Euvichol-S, has now received WHO prequalification and can be made available to countries around the world. The prequalification of this new product will help EuBiologics, the manufacturer, produce more volumes of vaccine, faster, and at a lower cost – a key step to expanding supply amidst the ongoing acute global upsurge of cholera outbreaks.

Today’s approval will help increase the overall supply of OCV available in 2024, with approximately 50 million doses now forecasted to be available to the global stockpile this year, compared to 38 million in 2023. Euvichol-S is an important product innovation: a simplified formulation of Euvichol-Plus that reduces the number of vaccine components – delivering a vaccine that studies have shown remains equally effective against key cholera serogroups while lowering production cost and complexity – thus allowing for larger volumes to be produced faster.

Cholera has been surging globally since 2021, with high case fatality rates despite availability of simple, effective and affordable treatment. The large number of outbreaks has led to unprecedented demand for vaccines from impacted countries. While global OCV supply has increased eighteen-fold between 2013 and 2023, the large and sustained spike in demand has put a strain on the global stockpile of OCV. Partners and countries are working urgently on cholera response, prevention and control measures in the face of this crisis, and have called on countries, manufacturers and others to support. Most recently, Gavi, UNICEF and partners announced the largest ever global deployment of cholera diagnostics to support surveillance and response.

“Prequalification of Euvichol-S represents a lifeline for vulnerable communities around the world,” said Dr Derrick Sim, Managing Director of Vaccine Markets & Health Security at Gavi. “Every vaccine dose delivered through Gavi programmes today represents years of planning and investment to shape the market so supply matches countries’ needs. The approval of this new product could not have come at a more important time given the acute upsurge of cholera outbreaks we are seeing worldwide. We commend EuBiologics for their role in ensuring countries around the world have access to cholera vaccine as part of their response toolkit.”

EuBiologics is currently the only supplier of OCV to the global stockpile, although other manufacturers are expected to have products available in the coming years. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance works to shape the OCV market, and funds the global stockpile of OCV doses, along with transport and vaccination activities in lower-income countries. UNICEF leads on procurement and delivery of doses to countries. Use of the stockpile for emergency response is overseen by the International Coordinating Group for Vaccine Provision (ICG), led by WHO.

“Despite cholera being preventable and easily treatable, children continue to suffer from this potentially fatal disease. UNICEF has already secured access to all the available doses of the just-approved vaccine and will deliver these to the countries at the highest possible speed,” said Leila Pakkala, Director of UNICEF Supply Division. “The approval means that UNICEF can increase the procurement and delivery of cholera vaccines by more than 25%, pushing back harder on deadly cholera outbreaks.”

People & Lifestyle

Isap Music Drops ‘Naomi’ As First Single of The Year

Published

1 day ago

April 19, 2024

Ameyaw Debrah

Ghanaian Hip-Life/Hip-Hop artiste, Isap Music has today officially released his premiere single of the year, “Naomi” on all digital streaming platforms.

The new single is an Afrobeats record that boarders on the thin line between love and obsession.

Isap Music opens with a reassurance for that special someone as he plans to put a ring on her finger soon. His sweet-singing voice together with the charming lyrics not only wins the heart of “Naomi,” but the listener as well.

On the DCM Records produced track, Isap Music brings a different energy to his first single of 2024, building a strong anticipation for subsequent releases as the year progresses.

However, until then, “Naomi” is simply one of the best Ghanaian Afrobeats songs released so far this year.

Isap Music’s spectacular performance on the two minutes 27 seconds track has everything; vocals, lyrics, storytelling and ad-libs, all on point.

It’s hard to believe such a good song was produced from another person’s experience but that is exactly how the song came to life.

In an online interview with Amplify Ghana, Isap Music disclosed that “Naomi” was inspired by a friend.

“The love song was actually inspired by a friend who was so much into his girl that he couldn’t stay a day without hearing her voice,” he said.

The latest single comes after his collaboration with 2022 VGMA Best Rap Performance award winner Lyrical Joe, Suuparstar TZ and Siicie on “Yesu Frɛwo” released last year.

Isap Music is one of the exciting new voices in the music scene. This new release, “Naomi” continues his streak of superb releases. Gaining recognition as one of the few street preachers, Isap Music’s versatility as an artist is of no doubt. He continues to share different messages and produce bangers in many genres.

“Naomi” by Isap Music is currently available on all digital streaming platforms.

Listen to “Naomi”

People & Lifestyle

Immediate Nexus: Your Gateway to Free Investment Education in 2024

Published

1 day ago

April 19, 2024

Ameyaw Debrah

Within the ever-changing financial environment, it’s an issue of immense importance that an investor remains at the forefront. Immediate Nexus is a beacon that avails the indispensable resources and insight to navigate an investor through manning the complexities in investment come 2024 and thereafter. Let’s delve into why immediate-nexus-ai.com is your ultimate gateway to free investment education in 2024.

Understanding Immediate Nexus: Your Gateway to Free Investment Education in 2024

It is nothing less than a whole ecosystem to be built with the idea of allowing investors at different levels of experience to obtain the knowledge and tools needed to gain a foothold in this business. Whether you are a seasoned investor or one learning the ropes of how to dabble in the finance world, the Immediate Nexus has got your back.

The Evolution of Investment Education

Traditional teachings of investment have a very short shelf life due to the fast pace with which technology and the trend of the global markets move. Immediate Nexus fills that need by providing modern investors with current, readily accessible, practical information.

Free Resources for All

But what really strikes the most is the kind of free education toward all people without having any expense of seminars or the elite high-cost memberships. Truly, Immediate Nexus advocates that financial literacy should be made available to all, no matter where you come from or belong in terms of background or current financial status.

Expert Insights and Analysis

Investment can be cumbersome to wade through, especially for beginners. Immediate Nexus makes it easier with an expert insight and analysis curated from none but the best sources. Be it market trends or effective investment strategies, everything is there to make your decision wise.

Harnessing the Power of Community

It doesn’t need to be a lonely journey. Immediate Nexus is a dynamic, live community where investors network, share ideas, and draw wisdom from one another. That interactive approach makes it conducive to learning at the same time, availing valuable networking opportunities.

Why Choose Immediate Nexus?

While Immediate Nexus may be a new kind of educational platform, in many ways, it is poised to soon become the go-to solution for those seeking to grow and succeed in the world of investing. Here are ten great reasons why you need to make it your go-to resource this year.

Holistic Content: From the guidelines of a beginner investor to the strategies which are to be followed at an advanced level, Immediate Nexus encompasses and provides information relevant to every single stage an investor might be in.
User-Friendly Interface: The platform friendliness comes with ease of navigating through the site, intuitive design, and a friendly interface.
Timely Updates:** Actual happenings in the capital and financial markets, economic development, and investment opportunities.
Interactive Learning: Engjson Quizzes, Interactive Tutorials, and Live Webinars assist learners in polishing skills and strengthening their learning.
Community of Trust: Be a part of an elite community of like-minded investors, share knowledge and support each other in growth.

Conclusion

Your Gateway to Free Investment Education in 2024 is not a platform—it’s a revolution, an immediate nexus revolutionizing ways people think about investment education. Equip your financial future with all the expert insights and resources that you would have needed, including a lively community. Join the movement today and take your first steps toward financial freedom.