In September, West Coast Entertainment Ghana Limited launched a new pageant beauty and talent hunt event to cater for the needs of young budding actresses in Ghana. The sole aim of the event is discovering upcoming actresses and makes them movie stars and celebrities.
In a bid to show its seriousness to the world, the organisers who also specialises in Movie and Music Production, Modelling, Photo Studio, Artiste Management unveiled the prizes for winners [first, second and third positions] of the pageant setting the road for the commencement of the show.
Two separate auditions were held in the Southern and Northern sector in Kumasi and in Accra respectively. Just when the show is about to commence, the organisers have been forced to change the name of the event from ‘Miss Ghallywood Beauty Pageant & Talent Hunt’ to ‘Goldenwood Beauty Pageant & Talent Hunt’.
The change of name has been necessitated as a result of misunderstanding between organisers of the pageant and movie maker Mr. William Akuffo who has registered the name ‘Ghallywood’ Film Academy and claims it’s his bona-fide property.
According to West Coast Entertainment Ghana Limited, they have already submitted their application to the Registrar General Department for the register of the Trademark and have been issued with a letter pending their Certificate.
But Mr. Akuffo didn’t see the sense in that and asked them to stop using the name ‘Ghallywood’ or face his wrath [through whatever means if he fails in the court room] even though the Registrar General thinks otherwise.
After several meetings and consultations, the organisers have decided to salvage their investments by changing the name of the event to forestall any court injunctions.
In a press conference yesterday, the company spelt out reasons for the sudden change of name.
Below is the full text of the press release issued at the press conference.
Management of West Coast Entertainment Ghana Limited saw it appropriate to inform and consult the originator and pillar behind GHALLYWOOD, MR. WILLIAM AKUFFO of our good intentions and reasons for coming up with a pageant of such nature. This, we did by calling on him at Ghallywood Film Institute premises on the Accra – Dawhenya road after he called to enquire why we were using GHALLYWOOD without his knowledge or permission.
It was during our meeting that we were informed that the name “GHALLYWOOD” was actually his [Mr. Akuffo’s] private company and personal property but NOT A NAME ADAPTED FOR OR BY THE GHANA FILM INDUSTRY as perceived by majority of Ghanaians and foreigners at large. He is an individual owner and President of GHALLYWOOD as a FILM ACTING ACADEMY.
