My hands are clean —Juliet on Black Star Films conflict

The Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority (NFA), Juliet Asante, has asked her critics to let her name rest following the controversy that has erupted over the renaming of the Ghana film industry and for which she is being criticised.

According to her, it was unfortunate that attention had been diverted from the objective and importance of the renaming to attacks on her personality over something she had no control of.

Her comments come in the wake of a social media campaign and subsequent petition presented to the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Mark Okraku Mantey, asking for the new name Black Star Films, to be scrapped because it is serving the interests of Juliet Asante’s privately-owned Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF).

The petition, which came from some industry stakeholders led by media personality George Quaye stated that renaming the Ghanaian film industry after BSIFF created a conflict of interest and raised ethical questions.

But in a phone conversation with Graphic Showbiz, Juliet Asante said she was innocent of the charges against her. She disclosed that the committee in charge of the rebranding was ably headed by Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, who led the process for a year.

“The names received over 2000 votes over the period of one year and Black Star Films was one of them. Every name in the list had an equal chance of winning so all objections should have been channelled over the entire year.

Read also: Tired of empty promises? Creative industry’s loud silence on 2022 Budget

“Besides, Black Star International Film Festival has been around for over seven years and everyone knows the name yet nobody raised objections in the last year. All of this energy now, if constructive, could have gone towards the process and objections raised to the committee.

“The process was transparent, long handled by a very credible committee which I was never a part of. Those who voted for the name indicated that the name represents Ghana as the Black Star of Africa and will represent us well in packaging the sector for the global market; as well as represent the spirit of our greatness,” she said.

However, George Quaye, CEO of events company, Image Bureau, disagrees with her claim and insists that it is conflict of interest.

“Yes, I know what the team has said that Juliet wasn’t part of the selection and all that. Well, guess what, the actions of the committee put her in a typical conflict of interest situation and if she and her lawyers don’t see that, fine.

“First of all, let’s look at what the 1992 Constitution stipulates about such a matter in Article 284. It says that a public officer shall not put himself/herself in a position where his personal interest conflicts or is likely to conflict with the performance of the functions of the office.

Read also: Time for corporate bodies to support Fine Arts — Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia

“The Executive Secretary role held by Juliet at the National Film Authority falls under those described as “Public Office”. Juliet is the founder and owner of the Black Star International Film Festival.

“Now let’s assume the government, in doing its best to help develop the arts in Ghana, is making funds available for a huge film festival in Ghana. Please, what do we call that festival? Please be reminded, Black Star Film Festival cannot be registered or used because the Registrar General’s Department will not allow it,” he said.

Emphasising his position in the petition, George Quaye stated that the industry does not need any renaming because it had always been recognised legally as the Ghana film industry and well captured in all existing documents.

But Juliet Asante refutes the allegation of conflict of interest. “I do not own the name Black Star. The name belongs to Ghanaians and it is the hope of everyone that the conversation will rise to the ultimate value of what the name represents to us, who we are and the spirit in us to shine but rather the focus is sadly on my person.

“We are calling everyone who wants to shoot a film in Africa to head to Ghana since we have the locations, the skills sets and we are committed to working on an incentive package to make us competitive.

Read also: Next MUSIGA President must be ready to serve – Diana Hopeson

“A vibrant sector will create jobs and attract investments into Ghana and this is what the people of Ghana want and this is what we should be focused on. It is sad that the Black Star of Africa is now about my person,” she stated.