Renowned British actor, Idris Akuna Elba, has paid a courtesy call on the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to seek his blessings for a groundbreaking project aimed at boosting Ghana's creative industry.
During the visit, Elba highlighted his deep African roots, revealing that he is an ambassador for both his father’s country, Sierra Leone, and Ghana.
He shared how his mother ensured he obtained a Ghanaian passport, reinforcing his connection to his heritage.
"I'm here as a son of a soldier, but I'm also here as an ambassador for Africa," Elba stated.
"When I was growing up and working as a bouncer, I rarely saw people who looked like me on television. It became important for me to represent Africans and the Dutch land as I grew in my career."
Mr. Elba revealed that he has partnered with key stakeholders to establish a state-of-the-art film studio and creative hub on 22 acres of land near the Osu Council in Accra.
"We’ve designed something that we believe will be not only excellent for Africa but fantastic for Ghana, to stimulate the creative sector in a major way," he disclosed.
He emphasized the importance of building a strong foundation for the African creative industry, referencing the success of similar projects in South Africa.
"If we have studios here, I myself will definitely be working in them and bringing our films to Ghana," Elba added.
Elba concluded by seeking the Ga Mantse's blessing for the project, noting the King’s longstanding commitment to promoting the arts and creative sector in Ghana.
On his part, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse pledged the full support of the Ga State for British actor Idris Elba’s proposed film studio in Accra.
The Ga Mantse emphasized the need for creative platforms to guide and inspire the youth.
"We used to have Mr. Mentor, which shaped the direction of our youth and helped define our collective psyche, concepts, and vision. Today, that direction is lacking, and we need these tools to guide the next generation," he stated.
He highlighted the importance of preserving Ghanaian culture and language, stressing the need to enforce Ghana Education Service (GES) bylaws to protect local languages spoken in schools within the Ga State.
"Our language is everything—it is our identity," the Ga Mantse said.
Reaffirming his commitment to the creative arts, he described Elba's film studio project as a game-changer for Ghana’s creative industry.
"Partnering with us to build a studio is the way forward. That is why we will support it absolutely, to ensure the creative arts sector reaches its next level,"
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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