Ghana Film Business

Ghana · Creative industry

Ghana’s film permits apply to projects, crew and screenings at different stages

Ghana’s National Film Authority says local and foreign filmmakers apply for a production permit for each project before filming. Its guidance lists GHS 200 for a local production and USD 100 for a foreign production. Location approvals, foreign crew work permits and classification sit on separate tracks.

Sources checked

Ghana Film Business Editorial Team

Production approvalsFrom the project permit to classification for exhibition
  1. 01
    Check the production format

    Six film and television formats are listed in the guidance. Source 1

  2. 02
    Apply for the project permit

    Use the local or foreign production category before filming. Source 1

  3. 03
    Check special locations

    Some locations require an additional approval. Source 1

  4. 04
    Arrange crew permits

    A foreign national working on the film has a separate application. Source 2

  5. 05
    Confirm producer licensing

    The producer’s licence is separate from the project permit. Source 3

  6. 06
    Apply for classification

    Public exhibition is subject to classification. Source 4

Use the flow to distinguish project, worker, and exhibition approvals. The table lists the six production formats.

Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 Source 5

The production permit follows the project

The National Film Authority lists six covered formats, from features and documentaries to television commercials. Its application guidance says a local or foreign filmmaker applies for each project before production begins. The authority operates under Act 935. Source 1 Source 5

A location can introduce a separate approval and fee

The Authority calls some special or closed locations permits within a permit. It says the location can change the requirements and fees. The posted GHS 200 and USD 100 charges are the project-level fees in the general permit guidance. Source 1

Foreign crew and producer licences have their own applicants

A foreign national working on a production applies for a film work permit. The Authority provides an annual option for foreign nationals resident in Ghana. The producer or production company applies under a producer licence category, which the Authority assigns based on experience and other qualifications. Source 2 Source 3

Classification comes before public exhibition

The Authority announced that from 1 May 2025 only licensed producers could access film classification. This is a later approval for the content being exhibited. Having obtained a permit to shoot does not establish the film’s public-exhibition classification. Source 4 Source 5

Sources

Open the data and source notes