Film Classification
Development and Classification of Film ACT 935
Section 19âClassification of film
(1) The Film Classification Committee shall preview and classify any feature film, documentary and advert that is intended for exhibition.
(2) A right owner, licensee or assignee who desires to exhibit a film shall submit the film to the Film Classification Committee for examination and classification at least twenty-one days before the intended exhibition.
(3) The Film Classification Committee shall within fourteen working days after receipt of a film, preview it and determine whether it is suitable for exhibition.
(4) Where the Film Classification Committee determines that a film is suitable for exhibition, the Committee shall classify the film as follows:
(a) U â Universal for all categories of persons;
(b) PG â To be watched under Parental Guidance;
(c) 12 â For persons of twelve years and above;
(d) 15 â For persons of fifteen years and above;
(e) 18 â For persons of eighteen years and above; or
(f) NS â Not suitable for Television.
(5) Where the Film Classification Committee determines in a preview that parts of a film are not suitable for exhibition on television and in movies, it shall recommend that the Board direct the person who submitted the film to excise those parts of the film it considers unsuitable for exhibition and re-submit the film for classification.
(6) Where the Film Classification Committee determines that a film as a whole is not suitable for exhibition, it may recommend that the Board refuse to pass the film for exhibition and classify it as “NS” meaning “not suitable”.
(7) The Film Classification Committee on the review and classification of a film may recommend that the Board fix to the film or part of the film, an identification mark according to the decision of the Film Classification Committee as provided in subsections (4), (5) and (6) and the Board shall issue a certificate of the classification to the person who submitted the film.
(8) The Board shall inform the person who submitted the film for preview and classification of a decision through the Film Classification Committee within twenty-one working days after the submission of the film.
(9) A Free-on-air television station shall not air a film which has not been classified by the Film Classification Committee.
Section 20âPornographic films
The Board shall not approve for exhibition, a film which it considers to be pornographic.
Section 21âPosters and advertisement of film exhibition
(1) The Film Classification Committee shall recommend a poster intended to be used for the advertisement of a film exhibition to the Board for approval.
(2) The recommendation for approval to the Board shall be before the poster is displayed.
(3) A person who intends to display a poster for the purpose of advertising a film exhibition shall submit the poster at the same time that the film to which it relates is submitted to the Film Classification Committee for preview and classification.
(4) The Board shall within twenty-one days after it has received a poster from the Film
Classification Committee, approve or disapprove the poster and inform the person who submitted the poster accordingly.
(5) A person shall not display a poster unless the poster has been approved by the Board or Film Classification Committee for the purpose of advertising a film exhibition.
(6) Where a poster has been approved by the Board, a person shall not display that poster unless that poster has clearly and boldly printed or embossed on it the classification mark recommended by the Film Classification Committee for the film to which the poster relates.
(7) A poster intended for the advertisement of a film exhibition shall only be displayed at places recommended by the District Assembly of the relevant area.
(8) The Committee shall make the rules for classification known to the public.
Section 22âExhibition of films
(1) A person shall not exhibit or cause to be exhibited a film unless the film has been passed and classified by the Board.
(2) At a film exhibition, the exhibitor shall at the beginning of the film, show the classification symbol box and consumer advice depicting the certificate of classification granted by the Board, before showing the main credit title of the film.
(3) An exhibitor shall only sell tickets under the supervision of a representative of the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Section 23âAttendance at film exhibitions
(1) A person shall not attend a film exhibition which that person is not qualified to attend by virtue of the classification of the film under section 19 (4).
(2) A person who exhibits a film under a licence issued under this Act, shall not permit another person who is disqualified by virtue of classification of film to enter or remain on the premises where the exhibition is taking place.
(3) Where the exhibitor of a film is of the opinion that a person who wishes to enter or remain on the premises or theater for the exhibition is disqualified by virtue of the classification, the exhibitor shall refund the entrance fee paid by that person and send that person away from the premises.