The Ghanaian movie industry, Ghallywood, recently received a boast with the launch of GhallyGold awards that would honour excellence in that industry.
GhallyGold Statue
The launch was characterized by well structured presentations on the history of film (movies) in Ghana; the spokes of the industry and the role each of them play or have to play in moving the industry forward; as well as projecting excellence in the industry. A symbolic statuette of a performer standing on a base with 5 divisions, holding a sphere with a film roll and an Adinkra symbol (Nsaa) up in his hands, was also unveiled as the trophy winners of the various categories would take home.
According to Rockson Adu Boahene CEO of Item 3 House, the 5 round bases of the statuette symbolize the five spokes of the film industry namely writers, directors, actors, producers and technicians. The human figure kneels on one knee to represent giving honor to whom it is due. The film roll symbolizes the production of movies and the ‘Nsaa’ symbol reflects the Akan saying which translates as ‘he who does not know authentic Nsaa buys the fake’.
The categories for the GhallyGold Award cut across a number of major divisions such as technical awards, special or merit awards and the casting awards. Among these categories are: best actor in a lead, best actress in a lead, best actors in supporting roles, best screenplay, best music score, best juvenile actor among others.
The awards are open to all movie producers and forms for submission of entries and other inquiries can be made on Ghana Gold Awards. A 9-member selection committee would screen movies and finalists would be made known for public voting as well as other technical voting to determine winners in the various categories.
The Ghallygold Awards is being organized by Item 3 House, an event management company, in collaboration with the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG). The awards, initially scheduled to take place last year, was put on hold due to delays in getting all stakeholders on board. For the past three years, the Ghanaian movie industry has not had any award ceremony to honour its stakeholders after the Ghana Actors’ Guild held the last one.