Filmmaking in Naija less expensive than GH —Peter Sedufia

GHANAIAN filmmaker, Peter Sedufia has expressed concerns over the challenges of movie production in Ghana, citing the high cost of logistics and equipment as a major impediment.

Compared to Nigeria, which has become widely recognised as a booming hub for filmmaking in the sub-region, Ghana posed financial hurdles for movie producers.

In an interview with the Graphic Showbiz recently, Sedufia disclosed that he shot his new movie. One Night Guests in Nigeria because it was budget-friendly with easy accessibility to production resources, which were more expensive in Ghana.

“We had to decide to shoot it in either Ghana or Nigeria. And we chose Nigeria because a lot of the funding was coming from there. Also, the financiers thought we should move it there to shoot.

“The kind of story we were telling and the type of locations we needed were easier to find in Nigeria. Of course, we could have gotten them here in Ghana but a lot of things were cost-effective in Nigeria,” he said.

He also noted that Nigeria's relatively affordable equipment and favourable tax regime significantly lowered production costs.

“We had good discounts on equipment in Nigeria. Most of them were less expensive compared to Ghana, so it made economic sense for us. Our tax regime in Ghana is too high compared to Nigeria, it is something I cannot hide. Making a film in Nigeria is less expensive than in Ghana for so many reasons”, he added.

On what he believes could be done to make the movie industry more conducive for its major stakeholders, he held that it was time policymakers and industry leaders addressed issues that hindered the progress of the local film industry.

According to him, Ghana's movie industry could position itself as a competitive player in Africa’s burgeoning film scene with the right incentives such as reduced taxation and access to affordable production equipment.

Sedufia also expressed optimism about the benefits of cross-border collaborations within the African film industry.

He noted that while it could be difficult to secure partnerships with stakeholders outside Ghana such collaborations were invaluable and could foster growth within Ghana's movie industry.

“Working with other industry players across Africa allows us to tap into their experiences and learn new strategies to grow the Ghanaian movie industry. It’s worth every effort,” he said.