In a bold move to fuse culture, creativity, and economic development, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South in the Eastern Region, Dr. Kingsley Agyem
In a bold move to fuse culture, creativity, and economic development, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South in the Eastern Region, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, has launched an ambitious partnership with top U.S. creatives to establish what is poised to be Africa’s largest film academy in his constituency.
The groundbreaking initiative brings together the visionary leadership of Dr. Agyemang and the international expertise of Hollywood actor Dr. Hassan Rasheed—known for his role as a king’s guard in Marvel’s Black Panther—along with renowned American philanthropist and media strategist Dr. Marie Lemelle.
Their collaboration, announced during a high-profile visit to the Ofori Panin Palace, represents a new wave of diaspora engagement aimed at transforming local economies through the creative arts.
The proposed film academy will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to train young Ghanaians in a wide range of disciplines, including film directing, costuming, cinematography, sound design, and video engineering.
The academy will also feature a movie production studio, potentially opening Ghana’s doors to international film productions and setting the stage for it to become a continental hub for filmmaking.
Speaking to the media during the announcement, Dr. Agyemang described the project as a “transformative milestone” for Abuakwa South and Ghana at large.
“This is not just about film—it’s about jobs, tourism, youth empowerment, and the global repositioning of Ghanaian creative talent,” he said.
He further emphasized that the academy would tap into the rich cultural heritage of the Eastern Region while promoting technical innovation and economic growth.
The delegation’s symbolic visit to the Ofori Panin Palace underscored the cultural and spiritual significance of the project.
It also served as a gesture of reconnection with Africa’s ancestral roots and an invitation to the African diaspora to support homegrown development efforts.
Dr. Hassan Rasheed and Dr. Marie Lemelle, who have worked on various community empowerment initiatives across the U.S., expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration and called on fellow creatives and diaspora networks to invest in Africa’s creative potential.
“We’re not just building a studio—we’re building a legacy,” Dr. Rasheed said.
This partnership is part of a growing trend where African leaders are increasingly leveraging cultural diplomacy and international collaboration to tackle unemployment and drive innovation.
With construction expected to begin soon, stakeholders are hopeful that the Abuakwa South Film Academy will not only nurture a new generation of Ghanaian creatives but also attract global attention to the region.
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