Ghana government to crack down on TV stations airing Nigerian movies

Ghana Plans Sanctions Against TV Stations Airing Unauthorized Nigerian Films

The Ghanaian government has announced intentions to penalize television stations that broadcast Nigerian films without proper authorization.

James Gardiner, Deputy CEO of the Ghana National Film Authority (NFA), conveyed this development during a video discussion with Nigerian filmmaker Uchenna Mbunabo. The conversation centered on allegations that some Ghanaian TV stations have illegally downloaded Nollywood films from YouTube and aired them without permission.

Mbunabo raised concerns about the prevalence of this practice, questioning whether it was legal for Ghanaian stations to exploit Nigerian content without compensation. Gardiner confirmed that such actions are not sanctioned by law.

In response to inquiries about government action, Gardiner indicated that addressing the issue is a priority. He explained that the NFA has met with the Ministry of Communication and other regulatory bodies, including the National Media Commission (NMC) and the National Communications Authority (NCA), to amend regulations governing broadcasting licenses. The proposed changes would require all stations to reapply for their licenses.

When asked about the timeframe for these reforms, Gardiner suggested that they should be implemented by 2027.

Numerous Nigerian filmmakers, including Bimbo Ademoye, Omoni Oboli, Mercy Johnson, and Ruth Kadiri, have previously criticized Ghanaian television stations for airing their films without authorization.

For more insights, a video of the conversation between Gardiner and Mbunabo is available on Facebook.

Watch the conversation here.

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