Former Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority, Juliet Asante, has opened up about a distressing encounter with two male appointees of President Akufo-Addo’s administration, recounting how one physically lifted her and forced her into the arms of another, who made an unsettling remark about marrying her. Reflecting on the incident, Asante revealed the deep discomfort it left her with, saying she scrubbed herself “until my skin was tender” that night, feeling violated and unclean.
Juliet Asante Shares Harrowing Experience as National Film Authority Boss
Former Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority (NFA), Juliet Asante, has opened up about the challenges she faced during her tenure, describing her time in office as a difficult and often hostile experience. In an emotional social media post, Asante recounted financial struggles, a lack of institutional support, and personal attacks she endured while trying to build the newly established government agency.
She revealed that when she took office in 2020, the NFA had no office, no funding, and no proper guidance on how to operate. “With a paper in hand, but no office or money, I set out to recruit staff,” she wrote. Despite these difficulties, she managed to draft a strategy for the industry, but quickly realized that there was little interest or support from the system.
According to Asante, the NFA received only GHC1,000 (about $100) for the entire first year and GHC10,000 (about $1,000) in the second year. She and her team had to work without salaries for two years, financing government activities from their own pockets while operating from their homes. “We had to shoulder the cost of running a Government office from our pockets. We worked from my home or the homes of other staff members,” she stated.
Beyond financial constraints, Asante also recounted facing hostility from the NFA board. She alleged that the board blocked her initiatives, challenged most of her decisions, and subjected her to aggressive confrontations. “There was a day I was attacked for five hours by a 13-member board and screamed at to keep quiet when I tried to explain the situation,” she recalled.
Adding to her struggles, Asante said she endured personal attacks on social media, workplace harassment, and gender discrimination. She described an incident where she was physically lifted and forced into a hug by a senior colleague who made inappropriate comments about her. “That night, I scrubbed myself until my skin was tender… I felt dirty,” she shared.
Despite these difficulties, Asante remained committed to the job, determined to establish a strong foundation for the NFA. In 2022, she and her staff finally received their first salaries, but resources remained inadequate. She noted that even office equipment used for official duties often belonged to individual staff members.
Following her exit from the NFA, Asante extended her best wishes to her successor, Kafui Danku, while calling for better working conditions. “By the way, please get Kafui an office and a car so she can work properly and not have to carry out Government work from her living room like I had to do,” she urged.
Expressing her relief at leaving the position, she ended her post on a reflective note, stating, “Freedom has come.”
