Filmmaker and photographer extraordinaire Andy Madjitey shines a powerful light on the quiet rise of surfing in Ghana with his latest short documentary, “Bonty (A Surf Film).”
The film centres on a young man from the small coastal community of Busua. Known locally as Bonty, he is a former galamsey (Illegal Mining) worker who rediscovers his deep passion for surfing and transforms it into a larger ambition: becoming a surf coach in a country where the sport is still largely overlooked.
Andy Madjitey has proven himself a gifted storyteller. From directing music videos such as AratheJay’s “Talisman” and King Promise’s “Slow Down” to short films like “The High Life ft. Juls” and “Gbonyo Party,” he consistently strikes a graceful balance between intimate personal narrative and expansive visual imagery.
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Shot with warm colour grades, elevated ocean frames, and breath taking scenery, the director captures Bonty’s magnetic presence as he rule the waves like Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea.
Andy Madjitey weaves a three-part story told entirely from Bonty’s point of view, exploring themes of resilience, identity, and the relentless search for a better future against Ghana’s rugged coastline.
The opening sequence sets the scene with quiet tenderness, the film opens up in a town where dreams often feel out of reach. He falls in love with the tides and learns to ride makeshift boards pieced together from broken scraps. Madjitey’s camera lingers on these humble beginnings with genuine affection.
The story then shifts into darker territory as the COVID-19 pandemic pushes Bonty into the perilous world of galamsey. He joins the pit miners chasing promised riches, only to witness deaths, and the slow poisoning of the very waters he once cherished. Through daring shots of polluted rivers and scarred landscapes, Madjitey delivers a subtle but powerful indictment of one of Ghana’s most urgent ecological crises.
Yet Bonty refuses to wallow in despair. In its final act, the young man walks away from the mines and channels his energy into a new vision. He founds the West Coast Surf school in Busua, teaching others the art of riding the tidal waves and building something meaningful from his reclaimed passion.
Andy Madjitey delivers more than just a surf film. He offers a moving portrait of one young man’s determination to carve out dignity and purpose on his own terms.
Watch “Bonty (A Surf Film)” Here.