Ghanaian filmmaker, Socrate Safo, has called for an urgent overhaul of the nation’s film distribution system. He argued that the overreliance on platforms like YouTube is limiting the industry’s growth and profitability.
During a discussion with Kwame Dadzie on Hitz FM, Safo emphasized that Ghana’s movie industry must adopt a more sustainable and regulated distribution framework if it hopes to thrive and compete internationally.
“As an industry, let’s sit and come up with a structured channel of distribution. Check every country that has developed; they didn’t start from where we see them today. They had challenges, and then they came up with regulations to fix them. As we speak now, the biggest challenge facing the industry is the channel of distribution,” Socrate said.
He noted that successful film industries around the world only achieved growth after resolving similar structural issues, particularly around how content reaches audiences.
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According to Safo, Ghana has yet to confront this core problem, leaving local filmmakers with limited and often unprofitable options once production wraps.
He criticized the widespread perception that YouTube offers a viable revenue stream for film creators, arguing that the reality is far less lucrative than many assume.
“When we finish a film, how do we distribute it? Is YouTube a profitable channel of distribution? Just because someone claims to be making money on YouTube, everyone is following that path. But when you talk to them, most of them aren’t actually making money,” Socrate Safo further stated.
Watch his statement below.
“Is YouTube a profitable channel of distribution?” – Filmmaker Socrate Safo quizzes #ShowbizReview pic.twitter.com/MtJhAwjgqb
— Hitz 103.9 FM (@Hitz1039FM) August 5, 2025
