Ghanaian/Nigerian Film Makers Are The Cause for Low Patronage of Movies - Enoch Atakorah

Not too long ago, we came out with a revealing poll to our reads on the astronomically dwindling state in the sale of Ghana-Nigeria English films; particularly Ghanaians don’t patronize Ghanaian English films.

The latest development to this issue is that, most of the top Ghanaian English film makers have relocated from Accra to Kumasi (where 99% of Twi oriented movies are produced) to shoot Twi movies which is now selling both in Ghana and other continents like ‘necessities’.


Enoch Atakorah, the national organizer of film crew association of Ghana (FICAG) and one of the experienced film production managers who has produced well over 50 Ghana and Nigeria movies, stated that concerns have been raised about why the English films are not doing well in the market.


“The film makers are too business minded and don’t care about the kind of products (movies) they give to their consumers. All they think of is the money they will get so they end up producing the same genres of movies at the same time, boring the respected movie fans”.


Talking about the Nigerian directors, he said Nigerian directors’ shoots Ghanaian movies to their satisfaction since they (the Nigerian directors) don’t know the Ghanaian culture in-depth.

How can a film director who does not understand or is not well rooted in another community’s values, culture, believe systems and traditions be called to tell or interpret that community’s story? Think it over.


Giving suggestions to what he think should be done so the English film producers can regain the heart of the movie fans, Enoch Atakorah urged the film producers to exhibit professionalism with respect to – cinematography, pictures, editing, locales, sound, lightning, etc.


He also believe our film makers must learn to tell real African stories and not steal Bollywood and Hollywood stories and reshoot them for Ghanaians to consume.


One reporter once had a fierce argument with one Ghanaian movie maker over the massive stealing of Bollywood and Hollywood stories and the latter said in justification, “I don’t steal the stories, I twist them”.