The Association of Ghanaian Film Producers yesterday called on the government to save the film industry in the country from collapse.

It said the industry will collapse completely very soon given the rate at which Nigerian films are getting into the country, and the patronage they enjoy from Ghanaians. The president of the association, Mr Mohammed Gardo, made the call at a workshop organised for stakeholders of the film and video industry in Accra yesterday to find solutions to the myriad of problems faced by the industry.

Mr Gardo said financing the industry is almost grinding to a halt because the investments on films in the country do not bring the expected returns. He noted that while it is the responsibility of all to ensure that the country builds a vibrant film industry, the activities of people who rent videos should also be regulated.

He suggested that collaboration between actors along the West African sub-region should be regulated to ensure that films produced do not introduce elements of cultural infestation.

Mr Gardo bemoaned the present status of Ghanaian films which he said, has declined in quality.

The Copyright Administrator of Ghana, Mr Bernard Bosumpra, in an address said that if action on the Copyright Bill currently before Parliament is expedited, it will help solve some of the problems faced by the film industry. He said the longer the Copyright Bill is delayed, the longer film makers and others are deprived of their income.

Mr Bosumpra noted that the market-driven nature of the film industry calls for strong legislations to deal with people who would want to take matters for granted, adding that under the guise of renting cassettes, some video cassette renting houses pirate intellectual materials, something that should be discouraged.