Mr Socrates Safo
Dr Akosua Abdallah
Mr Eugene Akyea Odame
Mr Steve Asare Hackman
Mad. Dorothy Habadah
Chief Abdallah Amidu
Numo Blafo III
Mad Felicia Yemoley Buabeng
SPEECH BY SOCRATE SAFO DURING THE INAUGURATION OF THE FILM CLASSIFICATION COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY MAY 14, 2020 AT THE ACCRA TOURISM INFORMATION CENTER
Mr. Chairman, The Honorable Minister, The Chief Executive of the National Film Authority, The Board Chairman and Board of the National Film Authority Fellow Members of the Film Classification Committee, Captains and giants of our film industry Distinguished guests, Our media partners, Ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. On my own behalf and on behalf of the Film Classification Committee, we express our gratitude for the opportunity that has been given us once again to serve our mother land. We can assure you that this Committee would not adopt the laid-back âbusiness as usualâ approach that has slowed the progress of our sector in many ways. We are starting work immediately the moment we disperse from this inauguration ceremony and we pray for the grace of God and your support. Mr. Chairman, results from several research across the world over all prove one thing: WE ARE WHAT WE WATCH AND WHAT WE SEE AFFECTS OUR THINKING, ACTIONS AND INACTIONS. When we fail to properly classify the content of what is shown on our television space, we endanger our own society, especially our children and our future leaders for that matter. Once upon a time, in this country, when an inappropriate content is being shown on television, a Ghanaian parent would tell the child âAsentewaa, close your eyesâ, or âMahama, go and sleep it is lateâ. Once Mahama goes to sleep, then you would hear our mothers say âNana please increase the volume a bitâ. This is a serious matter. We all lived such memories. But in this era where almost every room has a television and almost all television content are streaming live on social media and almost all our children have access to smart phones through which they can access television content, the role of safeguarding them from consuming inappropriate content, cannot be left exclusively on the shoulders of parents and guardians. No. This would not work in this era. Mr. Chairman, this is why there is a clear content policy directive that is backed by law. What is left is the planned and sustained support of all stakeholders to implement this beautiful protective policy. The Film Classification Committee, in implementing these content policies, would need your support to succeed. We are calling for the support of all stakeholders most especially the media, our religious bodies and our traditional authorities. Our doors are always open to you all and we would also be knocking on your doors very often for several forms of stakeholder engagements to arrive at a clear understanding of what we stand for and the importance of what we represent. Mr. Chairman, I would end here by once again thanking the Ministry, the National Film Authority, especially the Governing Board, and all persons who have contributed in diverse ways for us to be able to inaugurate this Committee today. May the good Lord bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong.