The issue of piracy in Ghana’s entertainment industry has once again come under the spotlight, with both Nigerian and Ghanaian filmmakers expressing frustration over the unauthorized use of their works.

In recent months, several Ghanaian and Nigerian filmmakers have accused some television stations of broadcasting their movies without permission, a practice many say is crippling the industry and discouraging investment in quality productions.

Nigerian actor and movie producer Nosa Rex is the latest to speak out against this trend. In a video, the visibly angry actor accused Ghanaian TV stations of airing his latest movie, ‘Prince of Peace’, a few hours after its release without his consent.

He lamented that despite the financial and creative investment that goes into producing a film, authorities in Ghana appear to be doing little to address such cases of piracy.

“I always say this, the Ghanaian entertainment industry will continue to be behind because of this uncalled-for behavior,” he said, stressing that it was unacceptable for his work to be shown for free without his authorization.

Nosa did not mince words in his criticism, describing all Ghanaian TV stations involved as “stupid,” with Unity TV singled out for particular mention.

The actor further called out Ghanaian colleagues for remaining silent whenever Nigerian actors and producers raise piracy concerns, describing their silence as disappointing. “You people are stupid, the Ghanaian TV Stations,” he said bluntly, sending a strong warning to Ghanaian TV stations to desist from the practice.

In captioning his post, Nosa Rex did not hide his displeasure, writing: “Ghana TV station showing my film (Prince of Peace) for free. It will never be well with you.”

A Growing Chorus Against Piracy

Rex’s outburst is not an isolated incident. In recent years, several filmmakers have taken to social media and interviews to call out Ghanaian stations for similar violations.

Omoni Oboli, actress-director, sparked the conversation earlier in 2025 by publicly accusing multiple Ghanaian TV stations of broadcasting her films without licensing.

She called on the broadcasters to stop blatantly disregarding intellectual property rights and warned of potential legal consequences.

Bimbo Ademoye soon followed, alleging that a Ghanaian television station even stole both her film’s title and poster design before airing her content, again without authorisation.

Ruth Kadiri, back in 2024, issued a terse warning after discovering one of her films being broadcast without her approval. She sent cease-and-desist notices, stating that further airing would lead to legal action.

Ghanaian filmmakers, including Juliet Ibrahim and Xandy Kamel, have also at various points voiced their frustration over unauthorized broadcasts of their work.

The incident adds to a growing list of piracy allegations within Ghana’s media landscape and has reignited calls for authorities to take swift and decisive action.

For many in the industry, the solution lies in not only enforcing copyright laws but also fostering a culture of respect for intellectual property, ensuring that creators are fairly compensated for their work.

What’s at Stake

These repeated violations threaten the sustainability of Africa’s film industries. Piracy deprives creators of rightful revenue, discourages future investments, and demeans cultural contributions.

In Nosa Rex’s words, “Enough is enough.” With filmmakers across the continent uniting to call out this illegal behaviour, there’s renewed hope that stricter enforcement and cross-border cooperation will emerge to protect African storytellers and the stories that deserve better.

Piracy in Ghana’s entertainment industry is a multifaceted problem that requires a collaborative, well-resourced, and technology-driven response.

While the current frustrations of Nigerian and Ghanaian filmmakers are valid, they can be addressed through decisive government action, industry cooperation, public education, and stronger technological safeguards.

If Ghana wants to fully unlock the potential of its creative economy, it must take piracy seriously—not just as an intellectual property issue, but as an economic, cultural, and national development concern.