Accra:Ghanaian filmmaker Anita Afonu has revealed details about how former President Barack Obama and his wife became executive producers of the documentary "Eyes of Ghana."
According to Ghana Web, Anita Afonu shared in an interview that the Obamas decided to produce the film after seeing an excerpt of it in 2023. Barack Obama was particularly interested in the story of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first President, which led to his involvement in the project.
The Obamas' production company, Higher Ground, became involved after previously producing another film titled "The Turnaround." When they encountered footage of the documentary, they expressed interest in producing it, recognizing its significance.
Anita Afonu also noted the personal connection between Barack Obama and Kwame Nkrumah, as Nkrumah mentored Barack Obama Sr., which eventually led to the former President's father pursuing opportunities in the United States.
The "Eyes of Ghana" documentary also features streamer IShowSpeed as an executive producer and highlights the efforts of Chris Hesse, Nkrumah's personal cameraman, in recovering and preserving over 1,300 film reels documenting Ghana's independence and the Pan-African movement. Afonu works closely with Hesse to make these historical materials available to future generations.