Recent news of the appointment of Ghanaian actors Kafui Danku and James Gardiner as Executive Secretary and Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority (NFA) has been met with firm disagreement from the Association of Ghanaian Creatives.
The association is calling for the revocation of the appointments made by President John Dramani Mahama, which was officially announced on Friday, arguing that they are the wrong choices for the NFA.
In a change.org petition addressed to the President, the creative collective asserts that Kafui and James lack the competencies to handle these positions.
“We, the undersigned members of the Association of Ghanaian Creatives, urge the government to appoint qualified, visionary leadership at the NFA. The institution must be helmed by a technocrat with deep industry knowledge, supported by a board of experienced creative professionals who can steer the sector toward revitalization and global competitiveness,” the petition states.
The association describes the President’s choices as “underqualified” and claims the decision marks a departure from excellence, particularly when compared to the legacy of Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, a Harvard-trained industry leader who introduced groundbreaking initiatives at the NFA and successfully brokered distribution deals with major players like MTN.
As replacements for Danku and Gardiner, the Association of Ghanaian Creatives suggests considering George Bosompin (National Film Institute, GAFTA), Jim Awindor (film and television strategist), Akofa Edjeani Asiedu (veteran filmmaker and policymaker), Professor Linus Abraham (media and communication expert), Akosua Abdallah (film education and policy expert), and Ms. Nicole Amarteifio (pioneering filmmaker and industry advocate) for the positions at the National Film Authority.