Accra, April 19 GNA - The first ever Environmental Film Festival of Accra, which depicts the acute problems within the capital and its environs, has begun at the Alliance Francaise in Accra with the screening of films on water.

The films - "Water is life" and "In your hands" - were produced and directed by Ghanaian filmmakers Mr Kwesi Owusu and Mr Yidana Ibrahim. They are aimed at exploring the issue of water privatisation in Ghana. The five-day festival would screen 36 films from 21 countries that deal with problems relevant to Ghana.

Some of the screening venues include Busy Internet, Geothe Institute and NAFTI Preview Theatre.

Mr Jerry Lanier, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy, commended the filmmakers for highlighting issues that were of national concern.

He pledged continuous support from US Government to carry out such programmes.

Mr Jonathan Allotey, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, said he was delighted that the films would bring to the fore some problems affecting water and the environment as a whole. He urged Ghanaians to take lessons learnt from the films seriously and to help fight water pollution and degradation of the environment.