Ghana To Sanction TV Stations Airing Nigerian Movies Without Permission

The Ghanaian government has announced plans to crack down on television stations that broadcast Nigerian movies without proper authorization.

James Gardiner, Deputy CEO of the Ghana National Film Authority (NFA), revealed that the government is working on new measures to stop the unauthorized airing of Nollywood films.

He made the disclosure during a conversation with Nigerian filmmaker Uchenna Mbunabo, who accused some Ghanaian television stations of downloading Nollywood movies from YouTube and broadcasting them without permission.

Mbunabo questioned whether the practice was legal in Ghana, saying many TV stations freely air Nigerian films without obtaining the rights from their creators.

Responding, Gardiner stated that the practice is illegal and assured filmmakers that the government is taking steps to address the issue.

He explained that the Ghana National Film Authority has already held meetings with the Ministry of Communication, the National Media Commission (NMC), and the National Communications Authority (NCA), which regulate television stations in the country.

According to him, the government is considering new regulations that could revoke the licenses of offending television stations, requiring them to reapply under stricter conditions.

Gardiner expressed optimism that the new measures would be implemented by 2027.

Several Nigerian filmmakers, including Bimbo Ademoye, Omoni Oboli, Mercy Johnson, and Ruth Kadiri, have previously accused some Ghanaian TV stations of illegally broadcasting their movies without authorization or compensation.