FOCAP CALLS ON ARTS MINISTER TO RESOLVE NFA LEADERSHIP CRISIS AND EXPERDITE ACTION ON L.I.
Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP), has sighted a letter dated 16th of March, 2021 with the caption “INTERVENTION ON GOVERNANCE BREACHES AT THE NATIONAL FILM AUTHORITY” (NFA).
The letter which is directed to the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture, calls on newly vetted Dr Mohammed Awal to intervene in the “gross neglect and disregard for good governance practices at the National Film Authority.
FOCAP requests that these breaches are solved to help empower and push the NFA forward, FOCAP as a pressure and advocacy group played a very instrumental role in the drive and campaign to set up the NFA and will not lose site of the fact that a lot has gone into the formation of the NFA to see it existence today. FOCAP, will be happy to witness the intervention of the Minster in tackling the issues raised in the petition by the NFA board members.
The four major governance breaches raised by the board members are as follows
1- Executive Secretary forming a content committee on the blind side of the board. The formation does not even fall within the domain of NFA.
2- The Executive Secretary formed a committee to seek a nickname for the industry without any notification to the Board for consideration of the subject matter and direction into how to execute same.
3- Breaching the Public Service Procedure with a letter sent to Public Service Commission (PSC) by chairman and Executive Secretary without the knowledge of the Board to start the process of confirming the Executive Secretary without the Board’s evaluation and approval of same.
4- ln breach of section 38 of Act 935 on the appointment of other staff, the Executive Secretary has sent a proposal to the Public Service for approval to employ some 21 personnel without any recourse to the Board.
FOCAP believes with the above alleged breaches, Minister Dr Mohammed Awal should step in quickly to resolve the matter with some urgency so the NFA which His Excellency President Akuffo Addo in his state of the nation’s address touted as an achievement not go down.
FOCAP, credible movie industry players and a group called NFA Action Group picketed the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture under the leadership of Hon. Mad. Barbara Oteng Gyasi to see the appointment of the Executive Secretary and Board Chairman. FOCAP will therefore keep playing its advocacy and pressure role until the Ministry for Tourism Arts and Culture lead by Dr Mohammed Awal intervene to ensures sanity prevails and order restored.
FOCAP is of the view that, the NFA is one of the most important pillars in the development of the Arts sector in Ghana and should be protected and developed to play its role to full potential.
Finally, Honourable Minister, while we draw your attention to these anomalies at the NFA, we will also like to use this opportunity to remind you of the draft Legislative Instrument of Act 935. We are informed that the L.I needs to be officially taken by your Ministry to Parliament for deliberation and passing into law and this will establish grounds for the smooth operation of the Development and Classification of Film Act 2016, (ACT 935)
Below is a presser issued by the board members:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMux-xohuRD/?igshid=1j2tztftfubeq
Kojo Preko Dankwa
Convener
0576655656
Mel Kwesi Davis
Convener
0246550298
Enoch Agyapong
Convener
0244712136
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