Ghana Threatens Tough Action Against TV Stations Showing Nigerian Movies
The Ghanaian government has warned that television stations found airing Nigerian movies without proper authorisation could face stiff sanctions as it moves to strengthen the enforcement of copyright laws.
The warning was issued by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Film Authority (NFA), James Gardiner, during a discussion with Nigerian filmmaker Uchenna Mbunabo over the alleged unauthorised broadcast of Nollywood productions by some Ghanaian television stations.
Mbunabo accused several broadcasters of downloading Nigerian films from YouTube and airing them without the permission of producers or copyright holders, describing the practice as a violation of intellectual property rights.
Responding, Gardiner said such actions are illegal and assured that the government is taking steps to bring them to an end.
He disclosed that the National Film Authority has been engaging the Ministry of Communications, the National Media Commission (NMC) and the National Communications Authority (NCA) to introduce stricter measures against offending broadcasters.
According to him, the proposed reforms could require television stations to undergo a fresh licensing process, while those found violating copyright regulations risk having their broadcasting licences revoked.
Gardiner expressed optimism that the new regulatory framework would be in place by 2027.
The planned crackdown follows repeated complaints by Nollywood filmmakers over the unauthorised use of their movies in Ghana.
Actors and producers, including Bimbo Ademoye, Omoni Oboli, Mercy Johnson and Ruth Kadiri, have publicly criticised some television stations for allegedly broadcasting their films without approval or compensation.
If implemented, the new measures are expected to strengthen copyright protection, safeguard the interests of filmmakers and promote greater accountability within Ghana’s broadcasting industry.
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