Actors Dorothy Konadu and Shadrach Agyare have strongly refuted claims that the Ghanaian movie industry is defunct.
The pair made their comments during an appearance on a mid-morning show on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM.
Dorothy Konadu stated that the industry is still active, suggesting that only those who lack interest in the sector would believe it has died.
“I doubt the industry is dead. The industry is still active, and if you are not interested in what happens in the sector, you would feel nothing is happening,” she said. “But I can confidently declare that the industry is not dead.”
She also urged Ghanaians to stop pirating movies, noting that piracy undermines the hard work of producers and deprives them of their returns.
Echoing her sentiments, Shadrach Agyare challenged critics to demonstrate their own contributions to the industry’s revival. He emphasized that the Ghanaian film industry is holding its own when compared to others.
“I would state categorically that the movie industry is not dead—not because it is my home. It is not even dying, let alone being dead,” he said.
“However, if we have objections or other thoughts about the movie industry, we should also question our personal contributions to the industry. We cannot keep praising other industries while condemning ours.”
Agyare further asserted that those who claim the industry is dead may simply lack appreciation for local productions, stressing that Ghanaian producers work tirelessly.
He passionately spoke out against piracy and called on Ghanaians to develop an interest in cinema and patronize new projects to encourage industry players.
Addressing the criticism that Ghanaian movies have become repetitive, Agyare disagreed, arguing that the detailing, values, and storytelling approaches in films are always evolving.
He also expressed concern about the tendency to over-compare the Ghanaian industry with others, particularly the Nigerian film industry.
He concluded by urging Ghanaians to offer constructive criticism to filmmakers instead of constant condemnation.
The pair were in the studio to speak about the premiere of The Fisherman, produced by Kofi Owusu-Afriyie of Luu Vision Media.
The film made its world premiere at the prestigious 81st Venice International Film Festival.
It was written and directed by Zoey Martinson and won the prestigious Fellini Medal, part of the Enrico Fulchignoni Prize from UNESCO’s International Council for Film, Television and Audiovisual Communication (ICFT).
The film was shot entirely in Ghana with a cast including Ricky Adeleyitar, Endurance Grand, William Lamptey and Kiki Romi.
It also featured Nigerian actor Dulo Harris, alongside Fred Amugi, Roselyn Ngissah, Dorothy Konadu, Mynna Otoo, Adjeezay, Adwoa Akoto, Princess Fathia Nkrumah, Papa Osei, Andrew Adote and Shadrach Agyare.
