68 YEARS AFTER, GHANA'S STATUS IN THE FILM INDUSTRY: AN ALREADY FALLEN GIANT

It was between 2004 - 2018, when the shift in Ghana's movie industry was gaining its name and recognitions. Something was happening and the industry had risen to its peak with a weekly release of back-to-back movies.. The names, Agya Koo, Asabea, Nana Ama, Jackie Appiah, and Majid Michel became household names. Kids would run home to want to watch Miracle Films' Asoreba or Venus Productions' Princess Tyra. The battle between the Kumasi based film industry (Kumawood) and the Accra based industry (Ghallywood) was something to live with.

Over the years, the industry keeps crashing down like the house of cards, a fallen giant, I dare say. The season for the ripe of the industry is no more and we have fallen behind time with nothing to show for, with all the struggles and efforts of instrumental actors like Bob Santo and Judas' put in growing the industry.

According to the South African History Online in their article, 'Ghallywood: An Evolution of Ghana's Film Industry," the Ghanaian film industry became one of the sophisticated film industries in Africa. During the Nkrumah era, his vision towards the film industry was to establish a well structured industry and build a nation under the same values and drives. From the British "Gold Coast Film Unit through Nkrumah's Ghana Film Industry Corporation to the current National Film Authority," there have been an unprecedented deterioration in this industry and is it disappointing to note that students who pass from Universities with film/tv degrees do not have any production company to utilise their talents.

Statista argued that Ghana's box office generated US$0.8M in 2014 and estimated a flat line from 2019 - 2023 with a gross income of US$1.1M. An industry which was once noted to be the most enviable is seeing its decline resulting in loss of jobs, dead dreams with crashed passions. Ghana is only best in pioneering projects; there are no strategic plans for a sustainable development goals. On the other hand, Ghana's rival, the Nigerian movie industry is estimated about USD128.58M by 2025. What are they doing differently?

It is disheartening to say that Nigerian movies generate more income in the Ghanaian market than local Ghanaian movies. Recently, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene inaugurated a 15-member committee to rebuild the Kumawood industry. The big question is, where would they start from? we have transitioned from selling CD's on streets to media platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Circuits and Akwaaba Magic. What is the distribution method as there are no major distribution company in Ghana. Prior to election 2024, the then flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress, now the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E John Dramani Mahama stated in his manifesto that he will rebuild and see to the wellbeing of the creative industry. Beginning with the recruitment of Kafui Danku and James Gardiner to lead the fort of the film industry in Ghana. Is it to compensate them for their support during his campaigns or they are indeed the best to change the face of the Ghanaian movie industry?

After the major breakthrough of Kwabena Gyansah's AZALI making it to the Oscars in 2018, there haven't been any significant changes in the industry whatsoever. Do we have lazy players or do we not see the need to uphold such an industry? Leila Djansi wrote a letter addressing the issues of the movie industry on her acebook timeline stating the lackadaisical behaviour of crews and actors. What is there to fight for? There is no system to build. Genevieve Nnaji single-handedly pioneered the Netflix media in Nigeria with her movie, Lionheart, opening the window for the Nigerian Market.

Where are we as a creative nation after 68 years of independence? We are at a place where producers are afraid to risk with talents but would rather rely on the known faces and "social media influencers" for their money's worth. We are at a place where the award system to motivate creative players for the movie industry is shambolic and without any headline sponsor. We are at a place where Ghana has only generated USD591.00 in box office in 2025.

The sad thing is, the journey ahead is blurry for the industry. In the next 5 years, we will have no industry to boast of or anybody to tell our stories but rely on foreign writers. Remember what Mariam Makeba said, "We don't expect the people who came to invade you to tell the truth about us."

Happy 68th my dearest Ghana.