NCOGA YAY was invited to participate in the first New York City screening of The Fisherman, directed by Zoey Martinson, at Quad Cinema in Manhattan. Following the screening, Michael Ansong-Dwamena, Co-Chair of Public Communications for NCOGA YAY, moderated a special conversation with Zoey Martinson and Anna Agbotse, MPA, Chair of Public Affairs for NCOGA YAY.
For Anna and Michael, the evening offered more than an opportunity to see a Ghanaian film. It was an opportunity to experience Ghanaian storytelling through the lens of the diaspora and then engage directly in a conversation about what the story represents.
A Story That Felt Like Home
For both Anna and Michael, one of the most memorable qualities of The Fisherman was how unmistakably Ghanaian it felt. The humor, atmosphere, community, relationships, and everyday moments portrayed throughout the film created a sense of familiarity. For members of the diaspora, those details can carry particular meaning. A film can become more than entertainment; it can reconnect audiences with places, experiences, and cultural expressions that still feel like home even when home is thousands of miles away.
It is authentically Ghanaian from beginning to end. You can feel the waves, the atmosphere, the emotion, the hustle, and the joyful presence of the culture in every part of the film. It brings you a little closer to home and reminds you what home feels like.
Carrying Culture Forward
The panel conversation went deeper into the themes behind the film. Michael guided the discussion through questions of tradition and change, Ghanaian identity, younger generations, environmental responsibility, and the preservation of community.
From Anna and Michael’s perspectives as young Ghanaians in the diaspora, one question was particularly relevant: How do younger generations carry culture forward while still allowing it to evolve?
Their participation reflected two areas of NCOGA YAY’s work. Through public communications, there is an opportunity to amplify Ghanaian stories and the people creating them. Through Public Affairs, there is an opportunity to connect those stories to larger conversations affecting Ghana, its communities, and its diaspora.
Together, those perspectives reflect something central to NCOGA YAY: connection to Ghana does not have to exist only through geography. It can also happen through storytelling, dialogue, representation, and creating spaces where young people can participate in conversations about culture and community.
Where to Watch
Following its New York theatrical run, The Fisherman continues to reach wider audiences. Executive Producer Yvonne Orji shared on Good Morning America that the film will be available to stream on Apple TV and Prime Video beginning September 30, 2026.
That expanded access gives more Ghanaians and members of the diaspora an opportunity to experience the film for themselves.
From Anna and Michael’s perspective, the recommendation is simple: