Next week, President Akuffo Addo will grace Ghana's inaugural Africa Cinema Summit

The two-day event, which is the first of its kind in Africa, is a major component of the Ghana Cinema Agenda, a project started by the National Film Authority of Ghana (NFA) to revitalize the country's film industry since the organization's founding in December 2019.

Major participants and decision-makers, including government representatives, film authorities, and commissions from several African nations, are anticipated to convene at the Africa Cinema Summit to discuss solutions to the sector's probl

The summit will be attended by more than 20 African nations as well as numerous international participants, such as Uganda, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Nigeria.

These include the Association of Nigerian Cinemas (CEAN), Century Cinemax, the biggest theater operator in East Africa, Stekinokor in South Africa, Canal Olympio, and Pathe in French Africa.

Also, Warner Brothers will premiere the thriller of The Color Purple, an upcoming American musical coming-of-age period drama film directed by Ghanaian filmmaker, Blitz Bazawule at the summit.

The decision of President Akufo - Addo to grace the maiden ACS gives weight to the relevance Ghana places on the cinema agenda in making room for adequate policies and regulation to push the agenda.

According to the 2021 UNESCO report, the film and creative sector is the largest employer in Africa with a projected value of over 20billion dollars.

The report also highlights that with a population of 1.4 billion, Africa only boasts of 1,700 screens. This means that roughly over 80% of the population have never had a cinema experience.

The situation may perhaps be worse in Ghana where the country only boasts of less than five functioning cinemas in the Greater and Ashanti regions, serving a population of over 35 million.

These gaps undoubtedly remain high, including the lack of infrastructure, funding, and adequate professional and expertise training.

Hence the summit, which is being organised by the NFA in partnership with Filmhouse Group and Silverbird Cinemas, Ghana, falls within the broader agenda and objectives to highlight opportunities for cinema growth and the required roles of players in the sector.

The Africa Cinema Summit will similarly provide a platform for stakeholders in the industry value chain across the world to discuss challenges and explore potential and opportunities in the African cinema space.

The conference is "premised on the two pillars of content growth and cinema screens growth on the continent," according to Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, the CEO of NFA and the person who organized it.

"ACS must develop into a national and continental conversation, and we should be honored to have worked so hard to make this happen—not just for Ghana, but for the whole African continent.

"Everyone must participate in this discussion. From the market woman, teacher, student, business organization, and, of course, the government.