Juliet Asante Looks Back on Her Impact at Film Authority

Juliet Asante Reflects on Her Tenure as National Film Authority Executive Secretary

The departing Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority (NFA), Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, has spoken candidly about her time there, describing the tremendous obstacles she overcame and the steps she took to support Ghana’s film sector. On March 2, 2025, Asante recounted her experience on Facebook, stressing institutional barriers, personal sacrifices, and the perseverance that kept her going.

Asante described how, at the beginning, she had to pay for the authority’s activities herself, even furnishing office space. There was little support, little infrastructure, and no operating budget when she took office in 2020. The NFA was only given GHC 1,000 ($100) in the first year, and only a small increase in financing was made to GHC 10,000 ($1,000) in the second year. For two years, she and her tiny crew worked for free, using their own money to keep the agency afloat.

The NFA board, which Asante saw as antagonistic and unsupportive of her leadership, opposed her from the beginning. She described controversial board sessions when her suggestions were turned down. Her first significant endeavor, a data collection project to evaluate the condition of Ghana’s film industry, was flatly denied. She persisted in spite of these obstacles since she had a goal to bring the industry back to life.

Asante endured personal struggles in addition to the bureaucratic ones, such as the death of her mother while she was still having difficulty running the operations of the authority. In addition to personal expenses like operating costs and medical bills, the financial strain of managing a government organization with little funding generated tremendous strain. Additionally, she experienced harassment at work, including improper advances from male coworkers and verbal abuse from industry figures.

Asante overcame these obstacles to accomplish notable accomplishments, such as leading the Pitch Series, which gave filmmakers a stage on which to present their work. The NFA produced the highly acclaimed “COVID-19 Hope” film, which became a national symbol of resiliency. She did point out that many of her accomplishments were overlooked, with critics downplaying her efforts.

Asante acknowledged that her trip had been challenging but essential, and she expressed relief at the end of her stay. In addition to congratulating her successor, filmmaker Kafui Danku, she emphasized the necessity of sufficient resources, such as office space and transportation, in order for her to do her duties efficiently. She also expressed disapproval of the sloppy way her employment terminated, emphasizing the absence of official notice of her termination.

Asante urged Ghana to take the film industry seriously and thanked everyone who helped her along the way. Filmmakers are not “jokes,” she underlined, and they should be respected and supported by institutions. She continues to be dedicated to promoting the development of African cinema despite having four Harvard qualifications and a wealth of creative industry expertise.

She concluded by implying that she would take a well-earned vacation, concentrating on rest, self-care, and personal interests, before tackling her next task.

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