Ghana to Revoke Licenses of TV Stations Airing Nollywood Films

The National Film Authority (NFA) of Ghana announced plans to revoke the licenses of television stations that air Nollywood films without proper authorization. Deputy CEO James Gardin made this announcement during a conversation with Nigerian filmmaker Uchenna Mbunabo, who raised concerns about the widespread theft of Nollywood content by Ghanaian television stations.

Mbunabo accused these stations of downloading Nigerian films directly from YouTube and broadcasting them without permission or payment. Gardin confirmed that such practices are illegal and acknowledged the challenges of enforcement, particularly with the rise of digital stations operating outside Ghana.

The NFA aims to reissue broadcast licenses under stricter terms by 2027. This complaint is not isolated, as several high-profile Nigerian filmmakers, including Mercy Johnson and Ruth Kadiri, have previously expressed frustration over the unauthorized broadcasting of their films, which undermines their livelihoods and the Nigerian film industry.