The long-running debate over the decline of the Ghanaian movie industry has taken a fiery turn following outspoken remarks by celebrated actress and producer Selassie Ibrahim.
In a bold and emotionally charged statement, the actress squarely blamed local television channels for stifling the growth of Ghanaian cinema and crippling the industry’s potential.
According to her, the media industry has failed to provide the necessary support that local filmmakers desperately need.
In a recent interview, Selassie Ibrahim expressed deep frustration over what she described as a longstanding pattern of neglect by Ghana’s television stations. She argued that foreign films are given preferential treatment, while Ghanaian productions are routinely subjected to harsh criticism and lacklustre promotion.
“You go to Nigeria, and you don’t see them watching Ghanaian movies. Anything foreign is fine, but anything Ghanaian is criticised. They won’t go and watch it. We don’t know how to celebrate our own.”
Selassie Ibrahim
Her comments highlight an ongoing struggle within the industry, where local content creators often feel overshadowed by the dominance of foreign films on Ghana’s airwaves. Ibrahim stressed that this imbalance has contributed heavily to the slow death of the Ghanaian movie industry.
She further criticised the blatant undervaluing of local productions by TV stations.
“You shoot a contract and send it to a TV channel. They look you in the eyes and offer you 1,000 Ghana cedis, even though you’ve spent over 20,000 or 30,000 USD producing the content. Yet, they buy movies that are ten years old.”
Selassie Ibrahim
According to her, the financial disrespect shown to Ghanaian producers is both demoralising and detrimental. She believes it strips filmmakers of the incentive and resources needed to create high-quality work.
The Genesis of the Problem
For Selassie Ibrahim, the evidence of neglect is overwhelming, and the consequences are painfully clear. The Ghanaian movie industry, once vibrant and influential across West Africa, has been reduced to a shell of its former self.
“When people say Ghana movies are dead, my heart bleeds. But the problem started with the TV channels. They killed our industry.”
Selassie Ibrahim
Her assertion is simple but powerful: without the backing of local media, the industry cannot thrive. Producers depend on visibility, fair compensation, and consistent promotion, all of which she says have been denied to Ghanaian filmmakers for years.
Abdul Salam Offers a Different Perspective
However, not everyone agrees that TV channels alone should carry the blame. Veteran filmmaker and CEO of Venus Films Productions, Abdul Salam Mumuni, believes the root cause is more complex and internal than many are willing to admit. Speaking at the maiden National Film Dialogue organised by the National Film Authority (NFA), he pointed to declining quality as a key factor driving audiences away.
Abdul Salam Mumuni has blamed the collapse of Ghana’s once-vibrant cinema culture on the poor quality of movies screened in theatres. He argues that without higher standards and stronger distribution systems, the industry risks losing audiences permanently.
Mumuni recalled a time when Ghanaian movies dominated cinema halls. Silverbird Cinemas, he noted, could host premieres that filled up to nine halls. This success was possible because viewers trusted the quality of what they were paying to watch.
“In the past, not every movie made it to the public. There was control, and producers respected industry standards. But now, anyone can wake up, shoot a film and send it straight to cinemas. Viewers became disappointed with what they saw, and gradually, they stopped coming.
“Initially, when the films started going to the cinemas, people started watching, but they were not happy with the content so they stopped. Gradually, it became hard to control movies sent to the cinemas and the poor content started driving the audience away.”
Abdul Salam Mumuni
The Fall of Distribution Networks
Beyond quality, Mumuni lamented the collapse of Ghana’s once-robust distribution networks. During the era of CDs, filmmakers could sell over a million copies of a single movie nationwide. Regional distributors ensured that films reached every corner of the country.
He recalled that back in the day, selling 100,000 CDs was just the beginning. “Accra alone could take 50,000 copies, Kumasi 20,000, and other places such as Tamale, Takoradi, Koforidua, Ho would all get their share. Every region had a distributor, making it easy to sell in large numbers,” he recounted.
Meanwhile, the debate over who is responsible for the decline of the Ghanaian movie industry remains heated. Selassie Ibrahim blames television stations for undervaluing and undermining local content, while Abdul Salam Mumuni insists that the industry’s collapse stems from poor-quality films and weakened distribution.
What remains clear is that the Ghanaian movie ecosystem needs comprehensive reform, renewed support, and a collective commitment to restoring the glory of an industry that once thrilled audiences across the continent.
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