Film classification committee hits road

The Film Classification Committee of the National Film Authority chaired by astute movie producer, Socrate Safo has served notice that it would start taking action against owners of audio-visual contents that refuses to present their works for classification from May 1, 2021.

In a statement sighted by The New Publisher, Chairman of the Committee, Socrate Safo, indicated that all audio-visual content shall be previewed and classified before exhibition.

According to him, after several consultations with various stakeholders of the audiovisual industry in Ghana, no television station, cinema theatre, or movie screening centre shall show any unclassified audio-visual content without classification from May 1, 2021.

“From 1st May 2021, no television station, cinema theatre or movie screening center shall show any unclassified audio-visual content. Such audio-visual content includes feature films, short films, TV series, selected TV programs, documentaries, advertisements, music videos meant for public exhibition and broadcasting”.

The statement added: “A right owner, licensee or assignee who desires to exhibit an audio-visual content shall submit the content to the Film Classification Committee for examination and classification at least twenty-one days before the intended exhibition. Anyone who fails to comply with the set rules shall be subject to the Offences and Penalties in Section 27 of the Development and Classification of Film Act 935”.

Former Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Hon. Barbara Oteng Gyasi, in accordance with the Development & Classification of Film Act 2016 appointed Mr. Safo to spearhead the Committee in ensuring an effective classification of films and audio-visual content that comes into the Ghanaian market and the media landscape.

The committee examines and classifies films and other audio-visual content meant for public exhibition in Ghana to ensure conformity to the national aspirations, moral and cultural standards, protection of children from premature exposure to adult experience, and provision of consumer advice to enable individuals and parents to make informed viewing choices for themselves as well as for children in their care.

The Film classification rules apply to selected television programmes that directly impact the socio-cultural and moral conscience of the people of Ghana; for example, sex education programs, talk shows, among others.