Ghana: Shirley Frimpong-Manso and Peter Sedufia unveil three films for the country’s 70th anniversary

Presented at the Labadi Beach Hotel, the project brings together Sparrow Studios, led by Shirley Frimpong-Manso, and OldFilm Productions, the company of Peter Sedufia. The idea is as ambitious as it is symbolic: to tell the story of Ghana of yesterday, today, and tomorrow through three distinct cinematic universes, ahead of the country’s 70th independence anniversary in 2027.

According to Graphic Online, the first release will be “The Return of Makunse,” expected in December 2026. This will be followed by “Nkrumah’s Red, Gold and Green” in July 2027 and “I Told You So” in December 2027. The three productions are set to blend memory, identity, humor, and a contemporary perspective on Ghanaian society.

The cast already gives the project a true showbiz event feel. Joselyn Dumas, Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku, Adjetey Anang, Kwame Dzokoto, Fela Makafui, Augustine Abbey, Kojo Boakye, Priscilla Ahiable, Araba Sedufia, and Frederick Yeboah are among the announced names, while the recruitment of other actors continues.

Three films, three perspectives on Ghana

“The Return of Makunse” is set to open the event with a story about migration, broken promises, and the dream of a better life in the diaspora. The second film, “Nkrumah’s Red, Gold and Green,” will take a completely different approach by revisiting the final hours leading up to the proclamation of Ghana’s independence in March 1957.

The third installment, “I Told You So,” will be a modern reinterpretation of a popular musical. Through this triptych, Shirley Frimpong-Manso and Peter Sedufia aim to offer a journey through time, while also reconnecting the audience with the experience of cinema in theaters and giving Ghanaian stories a more international reach.

The collaboration between the two filmmakers is not recent. Peter Sedufia explained that the idea of working together began to take shape last year. The project also involves producers Ken Attoh and Araba Sedufia, with Dede Chancellor and Selassie Ibrahim announced as executive producers.

A project supported by several institutions

“The 70 Slate” benefits from the support of the National Film Authority, the Ghanaian Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, as well as the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Presidency. Nestlé Ghana, GLICO, and Silverbird Cinemas are also among the partners mentioned during the presentation.

The event has already resonated on social media. A video of the launch broadcast by Ghana Weekend on TikTok notably circulated on Tuesday, confirming the interest surrounding this gathering of multiple generations of Ghanaian cinema. The first deadline is now set for December 2026 with the announced release of “The Return of Makunse.”