R. Lane Clark, Ghana (60 min)

Lala Productions

English/Twi, English subtitles

The documentary film Ghana's Electric Dreams presents a history of the Akosombo Dam, the country’s most ambitious development project completed in 1965. The film takes the viewer on visits to sites affected by this hydroelectric dam. Interviews with Ghanaians, enriched by historical footage, reveal the complexity and contradictions of modernization. They show how Ghanaians lived with and shaped this development project to their own needs. Recurring themes, including unintended consequences, social inequities, rural/urban divide, and gender differences, underlie this portrait of a vibrant African nation. The multiple viewpoints demonstrate that modernization remains an unfinished project. The film is organized into six segments, each 15 to 20 minutes. They explore different issues that unpack the promises and challenges of Akosombo.