The National Film Authority (NFA) launched its Cinema Train Initiative on Saturday, 31 October, at Silverbird Cinemas in Accra. The platform seeks to revive Ghana’s cinema‑going culture by linking filmmakers, distributors, cinema operators and viewers through a single digital hub.
Chief Executive Officer Kafui Danku said the initiative was developed after consultations with key industry stakeholders to create a more accessible and commercially sustainable exhibition system. She noted that many Ghanaian filmmakers invest months or years in production only to struggle to reach audiences because of limited exhibition opportunities.
"We cannot build a sustainable film industry if we produce films without creating pathways for people to watch them. So, that is why we are launching the CinemaTrain initiative today," Danku told the launch crowd. She explained that the initiative goes beyond screening films, aiming to build an ecosystem where producers can earn from their work, distributors can connect content to markets and exhibitors can attract audiences.
A core feature of the initiative is the CinemaTrain digital platform, www.cinematrain.com, which allows users to discover available film screenings and purchase tickets online. The platform is intended to simplify access to cinema screenings and make it easier for audiences to watch films on the big screen.
In addition to the digital hub, the NFA plans to expand cinema exhibition centres through partnerships with industry stakeholders, the private sector, public institutions and communities. Danku highlighted engagements with the National Commission on Culture and visits to its centres as part of efforts to identify suitable spaces that could be developed into cinema exhibition points, especially in communities with limited access to such facilities.
She urged Ghanaians to support the industry by buying tickets and attending screenings, saying, "Buying a ticket is very important. We can all start by buying a ticket, watching a movie and encouraging somebody else to do the same." She also called on corporate organisations, sponsors and investors to support the initiative, noting that their involvement would create more opportunities for exhibitors and strengthen the commercial prospects of the Ghanaian film industry.
Board Chairman Ivan Quashigah reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to strengthening the film industry, particularly by addressing longstanding challenges in distribution and exhibition. He said the Cinema Train Initiative aligns with the Authority’s broader target of getting one per cent of Ghana’s population to patronise local films.
Film producers, including Shirley Frimpong Manso and Ampong Kwaku Kwakye of Kornerstonez, pledged their support for the initiative. Representatives of cinema operators and exhibitors such as Silverbird Cinemas, Ozone Cinemas and The Trust Sports Emporium Limited also expressed backing.
Audiences can currently purchase tickets through the CinemaTrain website to watch titles such as No Man of God, directed by Ampong Kwaku Kwakye; Shirley Frimpong Manso’s Agency for the Dead; and the African‑Caribbean drama Joseph. The initiative is expected to provide more Ghanaian productions with audience access while creating revenue opportunities for filmmakers and other industry players.
What follows will be the rollout of additional exhibition centres and the integration of more local films into the platform, with the NFA monitoring audience engagement and revenue streams to refine the model over time.
