By Nyantakyi Aning Kwame
Two Ghanaian film production companies, Sparrow Studios and OldFilm Productions, have joined forces to produce a three-film project to celebrate Ghana’s upcoming 70th Independence anniversary.
The initiative, titled “The 70 Slate: A Cinematic Celebration of Ghana at 70”, was unveiled at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
The collaboration is led by filmmakers Shirley Frimpong-Manso, CEO of Sparrow Studios, and Peter Sedufia, CEO of OldFilm Productions.
The three productions are The Return of Makunse, scheduled for December 2026; Nkrumah’s Red, Gold and Green, scheduled for July 2027; and I Told You So, expected in December 2027.
The first film, The Return of Makunse, explores migration, broken promises and the search for a better life in the diaspora.
Nkrumah’s Red, Gold and Green will revisit the final 24 hours before Ghana gained independence in March 1957, while I Told You So is described as a contemporary remake of a music-comedy show.
Explaining the motivation behind the collaboration, Mr Sedufia said the filmmakers wanted to tell Ghanaian stories from different perspectives.
“We wanted to tell Ghanaian stories from different perspectives.”
He added:
“The 70 Slate is our way of using cinema to celebrate Ghana at 70 while creating films that can travel beyond Ghana and connect with audiences around the world.”
Shirley Frimpong-Manso said the project would encourage Ghanaians to reflect on their history and identity while strengthening connections with audiences outside the country.
“We want this project to encourage Ghanaians to reflect on our history and identity, inspire pride and unity.”
The project has the support of the National Film Authority, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, and the Diaspora Affairs Office of the President.
The cast includes Fella Makafui, Lydia Forson, Joselyn Dumas, Naa Ashorkor, Adjetey Anang, Kwame Dzokoto and Augustine Abbey, among others.
With the first production scheduled to premiere in December 2026, the filmmakers hope the project will contribute to Ghana’s film industry while using cinema to tell stories about the country’s past, present and future
