Hon. Fritz Baffour, Minister of Information, requested members of the new Board governing the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) to work assiduously to support the Ministry in its drive to improve both the infrastructure and academic structures of the Institute.

This, he said at a ceremony held on May 30, 2012 to inaugurate the new Governing Board of NAFTI, as the two-year tenure of the preceding Board had come to a successful end. Hon. Fritz Baffour, on behalf of His Excellency the President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, congratulated and expressed appreciation to the outgoing members of the NAFTI Board of Governors for their exemplary service, which has brought the Institute to its current level.

The Minister of Information also expressed appreciation to the incoming members of the NAFTI Board, for accepting their new responsibility and pledging to use some of their valuable time to serve NAFTI and mother Ghana.

“The vision of NAFTI is to be an exceptional institute of higher education that trains and develops aspiring film and television professionals to excel as team players in the development of society. You have been selected by His Excellency the President, to serve on the NAFTI Board because of your unique professional and academic qualifications and skills, and varied rich experiences, which will contribute positively, to the well-being of this strategic and key national institution”, said Hon. Fritz Baffour.

The Minister also informed the new Governing Board that the old Board has tried to think through and out of the box to find avenues to resource NAFTI by trying to access loans for the Institute’s activities. This path he stated, is still locked-up and awaiting cabinet approval. Hon. Fritz Baffour therefore tasked the new Board to bring to bear very innovative and proactive ideas as solutions to the myriad of problems facing NAFTI.

The new NAFTI Board of Governors is made up of Prof. Kofi Anyidoho, who is the Board Chairman. The members of the Board are: Prof. Linus Abraham, Rector of NAFTI; Prof. Mahama Duweijua, Executive Secretary of the National Council of Tertiary Education; Dr. Awo Asiedu, Ag. Director of the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Legon; Mr. Berifi Apenteng, Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation; Mr. G. B. L. Siilo, Director, Finance and Administration, Ministry of Information; Mr. Skido Achulo, an alumnus of NAFTI, and Mr. Alex Bannerman, an Industry Professional.

Prof. Kofi Anyidoho, the Chairman of the newly inducted NAFTI Board of Governors, on behalf of the new Board, accepted the national assignment given them. Prof. Anyidoho, who was also the Board Chairman of the outgoing Board, informed the new Board of the existence of some uncompleted business left over from their predecessors. He pledged the dedication of the Board, with the support of the management of NAFTI, its staff and students and partner institutions to work at putting NAFTI where it should be.

“We, the members of the new NAFTI Board of Governors express our gratitude to His Excellency, the President, through the Honourable Minister for this opportunity to serve Ghana through this capacity”, said Prof. Anyidoho.

NAFTI has in recent times undergone curricular and technical restructuring geared towards its strategic move into a Media Arts Academy. The Institute currently runs a 4-year Bachelor’s Degree Programme and a Certificate Programme in Film and Television Production and periodically organises short courses for media practitioners. NAFTI will also introduce a Diploma Programme before the year ends as well as a Professional Masters Programme in Media Arts next year.