- Selassie Ibrahim calls for merit-based allocation, not favoritism
- GH₵20 million seed money announced to boost Kumawood and other film sectors
- Fund supports feature films, short films, TV shows, and public education on culture and behavior
Ghanaian actress and CEO of Smartys Management and Productions, Selassie Ibrahim, has called on the managers of the Film Development Fund to ensure it is administered fairly and without favoritism.
Speaking to Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM’s Showbiz A Z, she welcomed the government’s commitment to allocating funds to the industry, emphasizing that the money should reach individuals capable of driving genuine change.
“We hope it will be used properly and awarded to the right people who can make a real impact in the industry. Favoritism should have no place in this fund. If someone deserves it, they should receive it based on their track record,” she stated.
On 13th November 2025, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson announced that the government had allocated 20 million Ghana cedis as seed money for the Film Fund, aimed at revitalizing the film industry, including Kumawood and other associations.
Under the Development and Classification of Film Act (935), the Fund’s objectives include providing financial support for the development and production of full-length feature films, which are its primary focus, as well as short and medium-length films, and public education initiatives on attitudinal change and cultural values. The Fund also extends support to television productions, including dramas, animated series, sitcoms, soaps, and comedies designed to influence citizen behavior and attitudes.
Additionally, the Fund is intended to aid the development of cinema theaters in regional and district capitals, promote film releases through publicity campaigns on radio and television, support research, and fund the training of industry professionals in both public and private institutions.
