Idris Elba announces plans to build film studio in Ghana

British actor, Idris Elba has announced that he intends to build a world class film studio in Ghana, his motherland.

The Hollywood star of Ghanaian descent was born Idrissa Akuna Elba.

He declared his readiness to construct the modern studio when he paid a courtesy visit to President Nana Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House in Accra, the nation’s capital.

The Golden Globe winner also discussed also the need for a comprehensive plan to propel Ghana into the forefront as far as movie-making was concerned.

Elba took to his Facebook page and reposted a statement from Akufo-Addo which read;

“On Friday, 3rd February 2023, I received English actor, Idris Elba OBE, to Jubilee House, the seat of the nation’s presidency, as part of efforts to promote the “Beyond the Return” initiative.

The time has come to engage Africans in the diaspora and all persons of African descent more positively in areas such as trade and investment co-operation, and skills and knowledge development.”

According to the ‘Taken’ actor, a vibrant and robust film industry begins at the policy level. He noted that countries like South Africa, Europe, Greece, and Morocco have invested in their policies because they understand the value of the film industry in dollars.

He said: “The National Film Authority has done the work. Put together a comprehensive plan to propel Ghana into the forefront. It needs to be robust. It needs to be competitive. We believe for sure, and I know you believe in your legacy that you want to leave behind, that Ghana should step up to start attracting those filmmakers.

“What I want to do is that I have a film that I’m directing, and I’m hoping to bring that film, or at least some of that film, to shoot it in Ghana. That film will be here in December. We start pre-production in August. Some of the films, in two or three weeks, will be in Ghana by December.”