The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has urged the government to invest in producing films that highlight Ghana’s untold stories, emphasising the power of cinema in preserving cultural heritage.

Speaking at the second edition of the Africa Cinema Summit, held at the Mövenpick Hotel in Accra, the Ga King highlighted the role of cinema in celebrating the country’s legacy.

He specifically called for a film that would tell the story of legendary Ghanaian boxer Azumah Nelson.

"Given that we are on Ga Adamgbe land, it is fitting to celebrate one of Africa’s greatest athletes, Barima Professor Azumah Zumzum Nelson, a son of the Ga soil. His story embodies culture, inspiration, and a vision for the future, the African way," the Ga Mantse stated, calling on the government of 2025 to pursue such projects with vigour.

Azumah Nelson, a former professional boxer, is renowned as one of the greatest African athletes of all time. He held world titles in two weight divisions, including the WBC featherweight and WBC super featherweight titles, and is celebrated for his achievements from 1979 to 2008.

Reflecting on African cinema, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II also criticised the negative portrayal of the continent by foreign media, recalling the painful images often shown to the world, such as the Rwandan crisis, despite the country’s ongoing progress under President Kagame.

He encouraged Africans to leverage cinema as a tool for social transformation: "As we gather for the Africa Cinema Summit, let us reaffirm our commitment to cinema as a vital tool for cultural preservation, economic empowerment, and social transformation. Cinema reflects our past, represents our present, and projects our future."

The four-day Africa Cinema Summit, which began on October 7 and will conclude on October 10, 2024, focuses on improving the quality of local content production and consumption, and pushing for increased investment in cinema.

This year’s summit has expanded, with discussions aimed at consolidating progress in the African film industry and fostering collaboration and growth.

The event has attracted prominent figures, including British actor of Ghanaian descent, Idris Elba, who headlined the opening.

As part of the summit, a Legacy Award ceremony will be held today Wednesday, October 9, at the Mövenpick Hotel.

The summit is organised by the Juliet Asante-led National Film Authority (NFA) in partnership with Filmhouse Group (Nigeria), Silverbird Cinema (Ghana), Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria, Century CineMax (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda), and Canal Olympia, among others.