Nana Dakrabo I, Mpuntuhene (Development Chief) of Akonoma in the Asebu Kingdom of the Central Region, is building a state-of-the-art film studio and production house, dubbed “Dakrabo 1 Studios” in Ghana.

Dakrabo I, who is a Los Angeles-born entrepreneur, has partnered with WEG Studios in Washington D.C., musician and producer Koby Maxwell, actor Michael Blackson, and other notable people to help bring the project to life.

The production house will cost an estimated $350 million and will be on a 321-acre land in Ghana, making it the first of its kind in Africa, according to Ghanaian American Journal.

Upon completion, Dakrabo 1 Studios will showcase seven soundstages, a 240-acre backlot, a blue-screen water tank, a recording studio, pre/post-production facilities, screening theaters, a concert hall, office space, a hotel forecast and crews, and most importantly, a film & music school.

The production studio will garner a large number of productions from neighboring countries in an effort to capitalize on the African film market.

The studio will also be looking to attract productions from around the world.

In regards to the educational offers within the studio, Dakrabo I stated, “Our education and technology partners are working together to create an educational experience that allows industry-leading educators from Los Angeles to teach virtually in Ghana.

It’s critical that aspiring professionals are properly trained on best practices and techniques directly from the industry’s practitioners.

This will allow professionals to create content at a calibre that rivals a Hollywood blockbuster.” Furthermore, each building on the studio’s campus will be named after an influential African as a way of honoring and celebrating African unity in an effort to move the continent forward.

Currently outside of Ghana, Nigeria’s Nollywood has become the second-largest film industry in the world, producing over 2,500 films and employing over 300,000 people per year.

Dakrabo I and his partners have hopes to create a new Hollywood in Ghana.

I was born in Los Angeles and raised around celebrities and executives. Essentially, I was raised around Hollywood and now I will bring Hollywood to Ghana,” Nana Dakrabo I, who goes by Michael B. Pratt in his private life, said about his plans.

“Beyond the film studio, I want to see professionals in all creative industries realize their ‘Hollywood’ dreams without leaving the continent and to see a thriving entertainment industry that attracts talent and attention from all over the world,” he added.

One of Dakrabo I’s partners on the project Nollywood producer Koby Maxwell commented “a film studio in Ghana will tremendously improve the industry with high-quality productions and it will unearth potential and opportunities for the whole world.”

• About
• Latest Posts

Newscenta

Latest posts by Newscenta (see all)

• Misinformation undermining democracy, eroding gains in Ghana – 14 March 2023
•  Dr Akoto: With right investment in agric, Ghana will not need IMF  – 14 March 2023
• Police nab 6 in connection with killing of soldier in Ashaiman – 13 March 2023

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says his government, since coming into office in 2017, has put in place measures and initiatives which have resulted in the construction of a thriving tourism economy in the country.

According to him, “we want to use tourism as an effective tool for economic transformation, which will help to create jobs and prosperity for the people.

“That is why Government, with the support of international partners, is investing heavily in key tourism attractions, which will, in turn, boost tourist arrivals this year and beyond.”

Speaking at the formal opening of the Tema Branch of Alisa Hotel, the President indicated that the hospitality sector is the third largest contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), after cocoa and oil and gas, accounting for two out of every ten jobs in the country.

President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that Government has put in place plans to build a state-of-the-art tourism and hospitality training school in Accra.

According to him, the $10 million facility will serve West Africa, and provide customer care training to operators in the tourism and hospitality value chain.

“When customers are happy and delighted, they do not only stay longer in hotels, but also spend more, and likely to return in the future with family and friends.

“Building the capacity of tourism players is, therefore, important in our quest to be the tourism destination of West Africa,” he said.

“When customers are happy and delighted they do not only stay longer in hotels but also spend more and likely to return in future with family and friends,” added.

President noted that Government’s focus, over the 18 months, is to exploit Ghana’s culture, heritage, history, hospitality and beautiful natural scenery to attract tourists, fun-lovers and leisure seekers hoping to find a unique experience in Africa.

In addition to the abundance of natural resources, President Nana Akufo-Addo stated that government has embarked on a product improvement plan, where several tourist sites in the country are currently undergoing renovations.

These he said includes the Aburi Botanical Gardens, the Yaa Asantewaa Memorial Museum and the Kente Museum, both in Kumasi.

“This year alone, it is expected that some $25 million will be expended to upgrade some of our iconic sites, including the famous Elmina and Cape Coast Castles, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, the Mole and Kakum Parks, and cultural Museums in Yendi in the Northern Region, Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, Akropong in the Eastern Region, and Ho in the Volta Region, under the Ghana Tourism Development Project, supported by the World Bank,” he said.

The President added that “this Project, with a value of $40 million, is expected to position the tourism and hospitality sectors as key drivers of social and economic development.

He enumerated some of the benefits that the project is expected to bring as enriched access to Ghana’s tourism market, better provision of tourism products and services, and the upgrading of skills in the labour force in the tourism, arts, and culture sectors.”

He noted that the advent of the COVID – 19 pandemic has meant that the hospitality sector has been the sector most adversely affected evidenced in the 75% decline in international tourism arrivals in 2020 and a 45% reduction in 2021.

That notwithstanding, he said the sector is rebounding after government took some bold and decisive measures which saved lives, livelihoods and businesses as well as through the global easing of restrictions.

He said government with the support of international partners is investing heavily in key tourism attractions and creating the needed environment for the private sector to thrive and support the economic growth of the country.

“Despite the current difficulties facing our nation we will continue to build a business-friendly environment that will enhance entrepreneurship-a vital component of economic growth and development,”  he added.

Mr. Mark Okraku-Mantey, the Deputy Minister for Tourism Arts and Culture, in his address said the prime concern of the ministry in promoting tourism is the aggressive improvement of tourist sites to bring surety of returns and ensuring that standards of hotels across the country are improved he commended the group chair of Alisa Hotels for his contributions in advancing the growth of the hospitality industry in the country.

He noted that the commitment of the ministry to ensuring quality of service delivery in the sector has resulted in Ghana topping the world economic tourism ranking in west Africa .

Kwame Ofosu Banfo, group chair of Alisa Hotels said the imposing Tema edifice has come about by dint of hard work as the actual work was done during the COVID-9 pandemic era.

He said the new addition to the brand would go a long way to advance the course of the growth of the hospitality industry and well as impact the sustainability of the group.

He appealed to government to offer the industry some respite and access to credit to help create jobs.

• About
• Latest Posts

Newscenta

Latest posts by Newscenta (see all)

• Misinformation undermining democracy, eroding gains in Ghana – 14 March 2023
•  Dr Akoto: With right investment in agric, Ghana will not need IMF  – 14 March 2023
• Police nab 6 in connection with killing of soldier in Ashaiman – 13 March 2023

Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture for Ghana, has announced the official opening of a Tourism and  cultural hub in New York to serve the North American Market and help promote tourism to Ghana.

He made the announcement at the Destination Ghana Networking event that was held in New York City on September 18, 2022.

The event, a collaboration of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) brought together business leaders and leaders of the African diaspora community to network and learn more about the opportunities for tourism, business and investment in Ghana.

The event also served as an opportunity to engage with the community and learn more about what their needs were when travelling to Ghana.

“The U.S. is very important to Ghana in areas of culture and tourism,” Dr Awal said.  The United States accounts for the largest number of tourists that visit Ghana annually, making them a significant place of marketing to Ghana.

“We’re going to open a Cultural and Tourism office in New York next year to serve as the tool and vehicle to drive culture and tourism between the U.S. and Ghana.

“By March next year it will happen and I can assure you that it will help facilitate all the issues of our tourism and culture.”

Members of the Ghanaian delegation included Akwasi Agyeman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Tourism Authority, Yofi Grant, CEO of GIPC, Ekow Sampson, Deputy CEO of GTA, Annabelle McKenzie, Director, Beyond the Return Secretariat.

The event was graced by Rocky Dawuni, Grammy-nominated artist, Barkue Tubman, Chief of Staff of Essence Communications, Jerry Adinkra, Cultural and Tourism Ambassador and members of the Ghanaian and historical diaspora community.

The event was well attended and also featured cultural performances.

“We are building a Ghana brand that will be a hub for tourism and culture in West Africa.

“We need your support to build that Ghana brand and drive a lot of tourists from New York to Ghana every year,” Dr Awal said.

The Consul General of the Ghana Mission in New York, Ambassador Atta Boafo assured the gathering that the process of obtaining visas will be simplified.
He assured that Ghanaians abroad can use both their Ghana and U.S. passports when travelling to and from Ghana with ease.

GTA CEO Mr Agyeman highlighted the activities lined up for December in Ghana this year which includes Afrochella, Taste of Ghana,  AfroNation, Little Havanna, and Detty Rave amongst others and invited the African Diaspora to be part of it.

The minister also assured everyone that important tourist sites are undergoing renovations and will be modernized to create a better travel experience.

Earlier this year the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Museum were closed for renovations and Dr Awal said it will reopen next year.

“We will have a fully furnished and modernized Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park by March of next year, ” he said. “The museum is being expanded and refurbished,” he said.

The minister’s announcement is part of the Destination Ghana Networking event in New York.

The Destination Ghana campaign was launched earlier this year in London in the United Kingdom to promote Ghana as a tourism destination worldwide.

Hinged on the fact that Ghana is at the centre of the world, the campaign builds on the strength of Ghana’s Year of Return campaign which encouraged the diaspora to come to Ghana and helped boost international arrivals to over 1.1 million in 2019.

• About
• Latest Posts

Newscenta

Latest posts by Newscenta (see all)

• Misinformation undermining democracy, eroding gains in Ghana – 14 March 2023
•  Dr Akoto: With right investment in agric, Ghana will not need IMF  – 14 March 2023
• Police nab 6 in connection with killing of soldier in Ashaiman – 13 March 2023