The Ghanaian government has announced plans to sanction television stations that air Nigerian films without proper authorization, in a move to combat widespread content piracy.
James Gardiner, Deputy CEO of the Ghana National Film Authority (NFA), disclosed this during a recent video conversation with Nigerian film producer Uchenna Mbunabo.
Mbunabo raised concerns about Ghanaian TV stations allegedly downloading Nollywood films from YouTube and broadcasting them without permission or compensation. He questioned whether such practices were legally permitted in Ghana.
Responding, Gardiner stated that the act is illegal and acknowledged it as a major issue the government is working to address. He revealed that the NFA has engaged with key regulatory bodies, including the Ministry of Communication, the National Media Commission (NMC), and the National Communications Authority (NCA), to develop stricter measures.
According to Gardiner, proposed actions include revoking the licenses of offending TV stations and requiring them to reapply under tighter regulations. He indicated that these reforms are expected to take effect by 2027.
The development follows repeated complaints from Nigerian filmmakers, including Bimbo Ademoye, Omoni Oboli, Mercy Johnson, and Ruth Kadiri, who have accused some Ghanaian broadcasters of airing their films without authorization.
The crackdown is expected to strengthen intellectual property enforcement and improve collaboration between Ghana’s and Nigeria’s film industries.
