Congo seeks Ghana expertise to transform film industry 

In a landmark move to bridge the creative economies of Francophone and Anglophone Africa, the Republic of Congo has initiated a creative collaboration with Ghana.

The partnership was aimed at promoting Pan-African integration through film, culture, and shared storytelling.

Madam Claudia Yoka, a renowned filmmaker and Presidential Technical Advisor from the Republic of Congo led a delegation that included Ms. Monie Lek, a Congolese actress and Mr. Dymo Sow, a Francophone filmmaker for the event. 

The visit was facilitated and supported by the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP), which has been at the forefront of continental creative integration through initiatives such as the Africa Monologue Challenge and the Africa Image Ambassador Programme.

During her stay, Madam Yoka held high-level meetings with the Chief Executive Officer of the National Film Authority of Ghana, Madam Kafui Danku, as well as other key creative industry stakeholders, including veteran filmmaker Mr. Roger Quartey and award-winning filmmaker Madam Juliet Asante. 

Madam Claudia Yoka revealed why the Republic of Congo turned its attention to Ghana, citing Ghana’s historic role in the development of Nigeria’s film industry as a key factor.

Ghanaian creatives, technicians, and institutions were instrumental in the early growth of Nollywood, and Congo now seeks to replicate that transformative impact.

“Ghana has proven that it knows how to build film industries. We have seen what Ghana did with Nigeria. Now we want Ghana to do the same with the Republic of Congo,” Madam Yoka said.

Madam Kafui Danku, CEO of the National Film Authority, expressed the readiness of the NFA and the Government of Ghana to facilitate any policy framework needed to ensure the success of the collaboration.

She noted that Ghana was committed to becoming a hub for continental creative partnerships and that the government would remove bureaucratic hurdles to enable seamless co-productions between Ghana and the Republic of Congo. -GNA