Ghanaian actress and Chief Executive of Smartys Management and Productions, Selassie Ibrahim, has cautioned managers of the Film Development Fund against favouritism in the embezzlement of the fund.

She explained to Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z that she hopes those genuinely qualified to receive the fund to help improve the film industry will not be sidelined in favour of people who will misuse it.

“We are hoping that it will be utilised properly and given to the appropriate people that will make impact and change this industry. Favouritism shouldn’t be part of this fund. When you deserve it you must be given and you must have a certain track record,” she said.

On November 13, 2025, the Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, revealed that the government had set aside 20 million Ghana cedis as seed capital for the Film Fund to help revive the movie industry, including Kumawood and other groups.

Under the Development and Classification of Film Act (Act 935), the Fund is intended to offer financial assistance for producing and developing full-length feature films—its main priority—as well as short and medium-length films, and to support public education aimed at influencing attitudes and cultural values.

The Fund is also expected to provide support for television content, such as dramas, animated series, sitcoms, soaps, and comedies that help shape positive behaviour among citizens.

Additionally, the Fund will help develop cinema theatres in regional and district capitals, boost the promotion and release of feature films through publicity materials and media advertising, and back research and professional training for the industry in both public and private institutions.

The government has introduced a Film Fund in the 2026 budget to offer tangible support to Ghana’s struggling movie industry.

The announcement, made in Parliament as part of broader measures for the creative sector, is intended to energise local film communities, particularly Kumawood, which has battled financial and production challenges in recent years.

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said the new fund will begin with seed capital, signalling a clear commitment to using public resources to strengthen film production, distribution and marketing in the country.

Although Kumawood and other local film groups remain deeply rooted in Ghana’s cultural identity, they continue to face limited access to financing, weak distribution networks and outdated production infrastructure.

The fund is expected to provide practical relief. It can support production grants to help filmmakers create higher-quality work and serve as a catalyst for improving the entire value chain.

More broadly, the initiative reflects a shift in how government views the film sector—not only as a source of entertainment but also as an industry capable of creating jobs, attracting cultural tourism and generating export revenue through international festivals and digital platforms.

If properly managed, the fund could encourage private investors to participate by reducing early-stage risks and confirming government’s long-term interest in developing the sector.

However, there are challenges to consider. Previous creative-industry programmes have struggled with weak oversight, unclear selection processes and short funding cycles.

The success of the Film Fund will depend on strong transparency rules, well-defined criteria for accessing support and systems for assessing its impact on job creation and industry growth.

Stakeholders also emphasise that the industry requires more than funding. Cinema infrastructure, stronger copyright enforcement and better marketing avenues remain essential components of a full revival—issues already being discussed as part of efforts to rebuild Kumawood and Ghana’s wider film ecosystem.

Attention now shifts to the operational details: the guidelines for the fund, the timeline for releasing the seed capital and the governance structure that will determine who manages the fund and how projects are approved.

If these elements are clarified soon and the money is released promptly, the Film Fund could mark a major turning point for an industry that has shaped Ghanaian storytelling and supported livelihoods for decades.

Filmmakers, producers and audiences now await the next steps. The commitment is on record; the challenge is turning that commitment into films, opportunities and income for those who keep Ghana’s movie culture alive.