Ghana’s budding filmmakers have a home to call their own

and is home to the country’s mostrevered royal family.

Films are shot on location around the central city and the surrounding area. Dialogue is in Twi — an Akan dialect spoken by most Ghanaians — and is often unscripted.

Crews shooting a feature-length film within a week can be on-set from dawn until midnight, Aboagye said.

“When you come to Kumawood you get the real definition of ‘time is money’ because the longer you stay on location the more expensive the production becomes,” he added.

Accra Film School executive director Rex-Anthony Annan said some Ghanaians are embarrassed to admit to liking the films, which are seen as “low standard” in some quarters.

But they remain hugely popular and are regularly shown on long- distance bus trips.

“Because they are in the local dialect you can relate to them more,” 22-year-old Eunice Larbie said as she waited for a bus to Accra. “Watching Kumawood films with strangers on the journey brings people together.”

The films are slowly making their way to theatres in Ghana but are more often found on local television, online or on DVDs sold by roadside vendors.

Kumawood currently produces about 40 percent of all Ghanaian films, while those made in Accra account for about half. The rest originate from other parts of the west African country, Annan said.

Kumawood films don’t necessarily follow rules and filmmakers aren’t professionally trained. Often there’s no plot and confusion reigns.