Entertainment of Saturday, 15 May 2004

Source: Steve Daley

What has the World Bank Done for you? Filmic Opportunity

Trasna an domhain go l?ir, of Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), are deploying a young film crew in Ghana from 5th to 25th August 2003. Trasna?s producer, Steve Daley, is leading the crew of 3 TCD graduates - Phil Thompson (reporter), Justin Smyth (director), Dave Comerford (cameraman) - and Claire Uzan (presenter) of Sciences Po, Paris. We are keen to visit you and especially your projects in Tamale, Kumasi and Accra. If you are agreeable to an interview and/or filming, please contact us at trasna@csc.tcd.ie

In the spirit of championing global equality, the Irish team will record Ghanaians? experience of the softer, friendlier development pact between the World Bank, NGOs and the poor. Three short documentaries will be produced for screening in Irish schools to encourage debate and discussion.

Ghanaian aspirations for material prosperity have been translated into pro-poor projects from batik traidcraft to free, compulsory, universal, basic education (FCUBE). Trasna?s team of intrepid reporters and filmmakers want to visit projects and NGOs, from the rural hinterland of Tamale to the industrial zones of Tema, to document Ghanaian perceptions of the ?basic needs? agenda at the heart of the new priority towards the poor's well-being.

In addition, the team of 5 will visit the controversial goldmines in the Ashanti region to interrogate the actions of the mining companies and the environmental protesters, and to record Ghanaians? opinions of the gold rush that has seen gold become Ghana?s number 1 export earner. Our aim is to record Ghana's performance and commitment to sustainability and wildlife conservation.

If you can support our mission to record Ghanaians' views on the new pro-poor framework, we will be delighted to hear from you.