The leadership of the Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP) has taken issue with recent statements made by Juliet Asante, the former Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority (NFA).
Asante, in recounting her tenure, cited financial struggles, lack of institutional support, and even instances of sexual harassment as key challenges she faced while in office.
According to her, she was tasked with building the NFA from scratch, armed only with a policy framework but no financial resources to implement its mandate.
However, FOCAP has dismissed her claims as misleading and untimely. The group questioned why Asante chose to remain silent during her tenure, especially if she saw herself as a resilient leader akin to historical figures like Yaa Asantewaa. They argued that rather than addressing these concerns at the time, she has now decided to speak out, a move they perceive as an attempt to garner public sympathy.
FOCAP further alleged that Asante’s leadership style was problematic, accusing her of frequently disregarding the board’s directives and making unilateral decisions without consultation.
Speaking to Citi News, FOCAP President Kojo Preko Dankwa challenged Asante to take responsibility for any shortcomings during her time in office.
“To come out now, seeking public sympathy and portraying herself as someone who tried to effect change but was hindered by a lack of support is questionable. The real issue is whether she consulted the board on all her decisions. If we assess it fairly, her approach had flaws. So, for me, it’s neither here nor there for Juliet to speak in this manner,” Dankwa stated.
FOCAP maintains that if Asante had genuine grievances, she should have raised them while still in office rather than revisiting them now.
