Canon Central And North Africa (CCNA) And Nafti Enter Into Partnership Agreement

Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) and the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) have signed a three-year partnership agreement to strengthen knowledge and skills levels in film and photography in Ghana, with the goal of creating new and rewarding career opportunities.

As part of the agreement, Canon will support skills and capacity development among creative and talented youth and professionals in Ghana in film and photography. This will be through its support to NAFTI, the main film training institution in the country, and by organising workshops on film and photography for industry practitioners.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, July 11, 2016, Mr. Amine Djouahra, Sales Manager for CCNA said the agreement is a significant milestone to strengthening the skills and knowledge in photography and filmmaking in Ghana.

According to Mr. Djouahra, “Canon is committed to launching innovative programmes that help provide the knowledge and skills needed to promote creative talent and drive the growth of a vibrant local industry”.

Professor Linus Abraham, Rector of NAFTI added that the project aims to expose filmmakers and photographers to cutting-edge professional technology used internationally. It will also introduce students as well as professionals in the industry to internationally acclaimed experts in the field.

In the opinion of Prof. Abraham, taking into consideration the reputation of Canon the world over, he is positive that the company would be working to support NAFTI and enhance its ability to deliver relevant courses and professional skills for its students.

“A major objective of the collaboration will be the development of young creative talents in Ghana to find employment in the film and photography industry, thus this project, will work to find young Ghanaian talents to mentor”, said Prof. Abraham.

In addition to building relationships with professionals in the film and photography community in Ghana, Prof. Abraham pointed out that the Canon brand would also be promoted and its commercial relationship enhanced in Ghana.

Through this partnership with NAFTI, Canon will also provide equipment for practical production work by NAFTI students, support them to find mentors and build a network of people aspiring to work in film, television and photography through Canon’s support at various events and exhibitions.

Roman Troedhandl, Managing Director, CCNA, prior to the press conference said, “we are committed to launching innovative programmes that help provide the knowledge and skills needed to promote creative talent and drive growth of a vibrant local industry. Canon’s partnership with NAFTI underlies our focus on supporting the nation in building the next generation of talent who will drive the growth of the country’s television, film and photography sectors. It will empower youth, build their skills and help facilitate rewarding careers in the industry”.

The press conference heralded a week-long photography workshop to be held at NAFTI from July 11 to July 15, 2016. The workshop will include elements for NAFTI students and for external applicants working in the industry. The sessions will provide opportunities for aspiring filmmakers to benefit from short courses in videography and photography, and raise awareness of the latest affordable technology, including Canon’s new products and their capabilities. The local trainers will also be supported with advanced training modules.