‘NAFTI to become modern university of creative arts’
The Minister of Communications, Dr Omane Boamah, has said the government will partner the authorities of the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) to transform the institution into a modern university of creative arts.
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He said measures would be put in place in the next two years to expand its infrastructure and other facilities towards that goal.
The minister made the statement when he visited NAFTI in the company of his two deputies, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu and Mr Ato Sarpong, as part of a working tour of institutions under his ministry.
The entourage toured some of NAFTI's facilities such as the studio, the TV control room, the VTR room, and the maintenance room.
He said the institute had many business potentials and asked the rector to present a business case for its intended projects for the ministry to forward it to the appropriate authorities for consideration and support.
He also gave an assurance that the request for NAFTI to be moved from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Communications to the Ministry of Education would be discussed by the relevant ministries for a resolution.
The Rector of NAFTI, Professor Linus Abraham, said though the institute had been performing its mandatory functions, there were challenges militating against its smooth and efficient operations.
They include inadequate government funding, resort to rented premises for a studio, lack of training equipment and the stagnation of its studio building, which has been abandoned for more than 30 years.
He, therefore, called for sufficient budgetary allocation to help the institute meet its short-term production targets.
He also supported Cabinet’s approval for a development loan of 35 million Euros for civil works, infrastructural, technological and personnel development in transforming the institute.