Deputy Executive Secretary of the NFA, James Gardiner
Popular actor and Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority (NFA), James Gardiner, has assured that the NFA is ready to maximize any budget allocated to the creative arts sector.
Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb’s Isaac Dadzie on March 28, 2025, Gardiner expressed optimism that the NFA would secure adequate government support.
He further assured that his outfit would work to justify the resources allocated and utilize them to the best of their ability.
“Hopefully, we get a very big chunk, but whichever amount is allocated to us, we have to try and work with it because you and I know the government is not just going to be handing out money as well. So we have to be up and busy, up and running, and make sure we make the most of it,” he said.
Speaking on what the NFA has been up to since he assumed office in February, Gardiner said he and other new executives have been taking a cautious approach by engaging with stakeholders and identifying problems that need to be tackled.
“When you assume office like this, you have to be very careful in navigating things. You don’t just rush and start doing anything just to prove a point or to make everyone know that you’re busy. First of all, we have to identify the problems that exist, both in the office and in the industry as a whole.
“So, with that, we’ve met with the previous board members, some industry stakeholders, and heads of agencies, and we’ve gathered the issues that currently exist. That’s what we’re going to use as a basis to determine which ones need to be tackled as soon as possible,” he explained.
James Gardiner made these remarks at the 4th Edition of the Africa Music Business Dialogue, which took place in Accra.
The dialogue, hosted by musician Trigmatic under the theme “Unlocking Africa’s Creative Potential,” brought together various stakeholders, including showbiz entrepreneurs, event organizers, musicians, and many others.
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