UNESCO: African filmmakers ought to take a cue from Nollywood
Carl Ampah, the National Programme Officer for Culture at UNESCO, is advising African filmmakers and industry participants to follow the highly successful economic model of Nigeria's film industry, also referred to as Nollywood, in the fields of film distribution and production.
Boakyewaa Lawrencia 
The growth model employed by Nollywood has the potential to assist other African nations in establishing thriving and independent economic sectors.
"One of the industries with the fastest global growth is film and video production and distribution. In recent years, Africa's manufacturing has expanded quickly due to the use of digital technologies.
In this regard, the example of Nollywood, which produces over 2,500 films annually, is noteworthy. It has made it possible for a regional manufacturing and distribution sector with its own business plan to flourish.
He stated that "other African countries can build fully homegrown, self-sustaining commercial industries by using the Nollywood model of development."
Speaking on Tuesday, November 14, at the opening day of the inaugural three-day Africa Cinema Summit in Accra under the theme "Fostering collaborations among African countries," Mr. Ampah stated that Africa offered a variety of creative ecosystems that were being exploited by up-and-coming film and audiovisual powerhouses like Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt.
He said that although Africa has the highest percentage of young people worldwide and a wealth of stories to tell, the continent had not yet realized its full potential.
The majority of African nations have seen a deficiency in governmental regulation and financial support to match the advancements in film and audio-visual production, hence impeding the growth of the film industry.
According to the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI), "the film and audiovisual sector in Africa remains historically and structurally underfunded, underdeveloped, and undervalued, generating only $5 billion in annual revenue out of the potential $20 billion," he stated.
One of the main objectives of the Ghana Cinema Agenda, which was introduced by the NFA to revitalize Ghana's film industry, is the Africa Cinema Summit, the first of its type in the continent.
It is anticipated to bring together influential individuals and decision-makers, including commissions from several African nations, government representatives, and the film industry, to discuss solutions to the sector's problems.
The summit will take place from now until November 16, 2023, and will feature panel discussions, movie screenings, conferences, exhibitions, awards ceremonies, and studio presentations.
