Veteran filmmaker Socrate Safo has reignited the discourse on the state of Ghana’s movie industry, urging stakeholders to take ownership of the sector’s decline rather than continuing to fault the government.
Speaking in a recent interview on Hitz FM, Safo reflected on a Facebook post he made about the film industry.
He pointed out the industry’s past glory days and present struggles.
“I have lived long enough to know where we came from, what happened to us and why we are where we are today,” he said.
He recalled times when “people were carrying money in Ghana must-go bags,” contrasting them with today’s scenario where filmmakers celebrate few-thousand-dollar YouTube returns.
“I want industry to wake up and look within and stop thinking about government, government, government. Every law the industry needs to govern itself has been passed by government… It is up to us to wake up,” he said.
He specifically referenced laws on copyright and the role of the National Film Authority (NFA), whose board he says is made up of practitioners and should be actively solving distribution, piracy and revenue-flow challenges.
‘Government alone can’t save the industry’ – Socrate Safo on creative arts sector
He argued that blaming ministers or presidents is missing the point and that the NFA board, made up of practitioners, should take steps to solve the problems concerning the industry.
“We don’t go to the minister; she is not the problem. We don’t go to President Mahama.
“He is not the problem. The board is made up of practitioners. Let them analyse the challenges we are facing today … Do we have people who take monies and don’t pay back? … The law says there should be a distribution system. Have they fixed it? What are the systems they put up for distribution?” he asked.
Safo questioned a roadmap by the government to ensure that at least 1% of Ghanaians watch locally made movies, pointing out that while over 70% of Ghanaians watch locally made films, filmmakers are not seeing returns.
“You say 1%. Okay, explain to me why the 1%? Because over 70% are watching already and we are not making money. What is causing this? We need thinkers now. We need people to think, analyse the challenge, understand the challenge and analyse,” he added.
His commentary builds on earlier statements that ignorance and poor orientation have hampered the Ghanaian film sector.
In June 2024, Safo said many entrants lacked proper training or understanding of the business side of filmmaking.
With his remarks, Safo is calling for renewed self-governance and structural reform within Ghana’s film industry, rather than awaiting external rescue.
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