Ghana Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews

Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in Ghana? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.

Filming in Ghana

For an introduction to shooting in Ghana see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.

Ghana Film Locations

Ghana is a West African nation known for its colonial-era slave trade castles, busy cities, national parks, surf beaches, lakes, and waterfalls.

Industrial film locations include gold, diamond and bauxite mines, as well as oil and gas facilities. Ghana is a leading producer of cocoa and root vegetables such as cassava, yams, and plantains. Energy locations include hydroelectric dams, thermal plants, as well as solar and wind plants.

Ghana has hosted productions such as Black Earth Rising (2018), Beasts of No Nation (2015), The Cursed Ones (2015), Samsara (2011), The Amazing Race 17 (2010), Ali (2001), and The Endless Summer (1965).

Ghana’s film locations can be divided into the following administrative regions: Northern, Ashanti, Western, Volta, Eastern, Upper West, Central, Upper East, Greater Accra, Savannah, North East, Bono East, Oti, Ahafo, Bono, and Western North.

Geographically Ghana can be divided by the following:

Coastal Plain

Accra is the capital and Ghana’s largest city. Accra features an architecturally interesting National Theatre and a restaurant curiosity, the Green Plane, located inside an old DC-10 plane. Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park & Mausoleum is dedicated to the country’s founding father. Accra Ghana Temple is an LDS Church. Black Star Square commemorates independence. Old Fadama (Agbogbloshie) slum is the country’s largest slum.

Elmina Castle, Cape Coast Castle, Osu Castle, and Fort Christiansborg are colonial-era slave trade castles.

Kakum National Park is known for its elephants, birdlife and canopy walks.

Kokrobite offers good surfing near Accra. A four hour drive from Accra the town of Busua is the surfing capital of Ghana. Further still Cape Three Points is another good break to film surfing. Other beaches of note include Labadi Beach and Bojo Beach.

Nzulezu is a stilt village overlooking Lake Tadane.

Ashanti-Kwahu

Kumasi is Ghana’s second largest city and features the busy Kejetia Market.

Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary is known for its butterflies and birdlife.

Bui National Park is known for its hippo population, as well as being home to the endangered black-and-white colobus monkey.

Bia National Park has some of Ghana’s last remnants of untouched forest, with some of the tallest trees in West Africa.

Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary is home to around 700 monkeys.

Lake Bosumtwi is a crater lake.

Volta Basin

Lake Volta is one of the largest artificial reservoirs in the world. The construction of Akosombo Dam created Lake Volta.

Wli Waterfalls and Boti Waterfalls are beautiful film locations.

Heading north, witch camps are sanctuaries for women accused of witchcraft.

Northern Plains

Mole National Park is known for its elephants, hippos, monkeys, crocodiles, and birdlife.

Larabanga Mosque is built in the Sudanese architectural style.

Ahmadiyya Central Mosque is located in Tamale.

Ghana Film Location Permits

Each visiting crew member must have Press Accreditation and security clearances to film anywhere in Ghana. This usually takes 2-3 days to process once all visiting crew documentation is submitted. Permission to film at a specific location depends on the scope and nature of the shoot. Although there may not be a set fee for a location, donations help open doors. Shutting down roads and more complex requests typically require at least a week to organise. Please contact us for location specific information.

When To Shoot?

Ghana has a tropical climate. Coastal areas are hot and humid and the north is hot and dry. Ghana’s rainy seasons are from April to June and September to November. The dry seasons run from November to March and July to August. Although January and February have the most sun they are not necessarily the best time for filming due to the high incidence of fog, which can drastically reduce visibility. For monthly weather statistics please see here.

Ghana has a diversity of traditions honoring religion, ancestors, rites of passage, and harvest. Of particular interest to filmmakers and photographers include:

• Masquerading Festival in Winneba in January.
• Bugum Chugu (Fire Festival) in January.
• Edina Buronya in January is Christmas celebrated by the Elmina people.
• Dzawuwu Festival in February is a colourful festival in the Agave region.
• Gologo in March is a pre-harvest festival observed by the Talensi people.
• Willa in April gives thanks to Takpo ancestors.
• Bobum in April initiates Krobo Odumase and Somanya girls into womanhood.
• Aboakyer deer hunting festival is celebrated by the Effutus people in Winneba in May.
• Homowo is a harvest festival celebrated by Ga people in May.
• Bakatue marks the start of the new fishing season in July.
• Damba festival Muslim celebration in September.
• Fetu Afahye is a colourful celebration observed by the Oguaa people of Cape Coast in September.
• Dodoleglime is celebrated by the people of the Ve in the Volta region in November.
• Hogbetsotso is a colourful celebration held November in the town of Hinloga.

Ghana is a predominately Christian country, with a minority Muslim population that mainly lives in the north of the country.

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Ghana.

Unique Local Stories

Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.

If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.

If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.

Costs & Tax Incentives

Costs. The favorable exchange rate means that most major currencies go far in Ghana. Locations, supporting crews and talent are by world standards very inexpensive. The major costs are having to fly in equipment and key crew. Our Ghanaian fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.

Tax Incentives. There are no tax incentives for foreign feature films or commercials shooting in Ghana.

Film Crew & Talent

Crews. Ghana has a Film and Television Institute that turns out a small pool of local directors, videographers and stills photographers. It is best to bring in some of your key crew from abroad.

Contact us if you are looking for a director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew for your shoot in Ghana.

Talent day rates and buyouts are reasonable and negotiated on a personal basis. Local casting facilities are quite basic so street casting is often required.

English is the official language but more than 250 languages and dialects are spoken in Ghana.

The major ethnic groups include the Akan, Mole-Dagbon, and Ewe. Minority ethnic groups include the Ga-Adangbe, Bassare, Konkomba, Guan, Gurunsi, Kusasi, and Bissa. Other talent looks are best cast abroad.

Ghana Film Equipment

Equipment. Ghana has some standard camera, lighting and grip equipment available locally. Crews bringing in their own gear will need our Ghanaian fixer / producer to apply for a customs insurance bond on equipment to be imported.

Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.

Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.

For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.

Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production

Art department and set construction. Construction crews are relatively good but art department is limited beyond local looks.

Studios. TV station studio can be rented. Studios are not Ghana’s strong point.

Backlots. At present there are no backlots in Ghana.

Post Production. Limited facilities. Best to post abroad.

Visas & Work Permits

Western passport holders need visas to enter Ghana. US passport holders see here for more information. Press Accreditation is required for all foreign crew entering Ghana. This usually takes 2-3 days to process once all visiting crew documentation is submitted. Our local Ghanaian fixer will provide you a Letter of Invitation for your application. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is also required to enter Ghana. Contact your local Ghanaian embassy / representative for more information.

Transport & Accommodation

Transportation Infrastructure. Roads in urban centers and roads linking cities are paved. Rural areas are slower going especially in the north and during the wet season. Avoid travel by night. Our Ghanaian fixer organizes safe and reliable 4WD transportation. Cities and towns are also accessible by domestic flights which are usually reasonably priced. Several international airlines service flights to Ghana.

Accommodation. Recommended film friendly hotels in Accra include:

Villa Monticello
Labadi Beach Hotel
Mahogany Lodge

Please contact us for corporate rates.

For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.

Final Notes

Safety. See here for up to date travel advice. See here for vaccinations required for Ghana.

Down Time. Go surfing.

Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Ghana, please see below:

Hire Ghana Production Support & Shooting Crew

If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Ghana, please contact us.

If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Ghana, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.

We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.