Mr Akuffo speaks on Ghallywood

STORY: CHARITY SACKITEY

“It has not been easy for me to relish my dream in the movie industry. And as the saying goes hard work pays, I have managed to make a significant impact in the Ghanaian movie industry being the first producer in the country and for that matter in the world to come out with a movie on video,” Mr William Akuffo, the Founder of Ghallywood Film Academy, has disclosed.

The film expert explained that before he came out with the first video movie ‘Zinabu’ in 1987, producers were doing films on celluloid.

“With the support of my black American friend called Juma Kwanguana I was able to change the status quo”, Mr Akuffo stated.

He continued that since that time he has been able to sustain his productions on video with the support of his family and some well wishers, though, he admitted there have been some challenges.

He added… “Due to hard work, I have acquired a parcel of land at Dawa, a town on the Accra Aflao road to start the school. My aim was to develop new talents to help the local film industry”.

Nigeria, according to him, has a very huge film market and that the Ghanaian movie industry would be better off, if frantic efforts are made to work hand-in-hand with them.

“I believe that if we the local producers decide to work with our colleagues in the Nigerian market, I think that the Ghanaian movies would see a significant facelift, which would propel a lot of the young talents into stardom”, he retorted.

Continuing, he said “Ghallywood courses are hands-on courses; students decide for themselves the course they are interested in or want to pursue”.

Against that background, Mr Akuffo revealed that in order for to properly acquaint themselves with whatever course they are reading, duration of the courses have been limited to only three months.

He averred that the basic requirement a student has to meet before being enrolled in the school is to be a JHS graduate or have flair for writing and reading.