Ghana’s National Film Authority has announced plans to crack down on television stations broadcasting Nollywood films without authorisation, with the Deputy CEO revealing that all broadcast licenses in the country could be revoked and reissued under stricter terms by 2027.
James Gardiner, a Ghanaian actor and Deputy CEO of the NFA, made the announcement during a conversation with Nigerian filmmaker Uchenna Mbunabo, who had confronted him over the widespread theft of Nollywood content by Ghanaian television stations.
Mbunabo accused the stations of downloading Nigerian films directly from YouTube and airing them on national television without permission or payment.
Gardiner confirmed the practice was illegal and said the NFA had been working with Ghana’s Ministry of Communications, the National Communications Authority, and the National Media Commission to address it.
He acknowledged that enforcement remained difficult, particularly with the rise of digital stations operating from outside Ghana without physical offices in the country.
Mbunabo’s complaint is not an isolated one, several high-profile Nigerian filmmakers and actresses have previously called out Ghanaian television stations over the same issue.
Nigeria’s film industry continues to expand in terms of output, but filmmakers have long complained that widespread piracy, both at home and across the continent, significantly undermines their earnings.