Uchenna Mbunabo questions if airing Nigerian movies without rights is legal in Ghana
Nigerian film producer Uchenna Mbunabo has raised concerns over what he describes as the unauthorised broadcast of Nigerian movies by some Ghanaian television stations, questioning whether such practices have become legally acceptable in Ghana.
The filmmaker made the comments during a discussion with Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority (NFA), James Gardiner, in the presence of Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah.
The conversation, which was shared on Instagram, focused on concerns over copyright infringement within the film industry.
Uchenna Mbunabo questioned why some television stations in Ghana are allegedly downloading newly released Nigerian movies from platforms such as YouTube and broadcasting them without seeking approval or obtaining the necessary rights from the producers.
“I noticed that Ghanaian TV stations, the way they are stealing our films and showing them for free with impunity. Is it legalized in your country for TV stations to go on YouTube, download people’s sweat and show it for free?” Uchenna Mbunabo asked James Gardiner.
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James Gardiner acknowledged that unauthorised airing of films remains a challenge within Ghana’s broadcasting and film sectors.
He admitted that he is also disappointed whenever he encounters television stations showing films without the consent of the creators.
According to him, the National Film Authority has started engaging relevant institutions and stakeholders to address the issue and find lasting solutions to copyright violations affecting filmmakers.
He revealed that the Authority has held discussions with the Ministry of Communications, the National Communications Authority (NCA), and the National Media Commission (NMC), which are responsible for overseeing and regulating Ghana’s television broadcasting environment.
James Gardiner explained that although Ghana has copyright laws in place, enforcement has been difficult due to the changing nature of television broadcasting, particularly with the rise of digital platforms that allow operators to function without traditional physical structures.
He noted that some digital television stations operate remotely from outside Ghana, making it more difficult for regulatory bodies to monitor and hold them accountable for copyright breaches.
“There are copyright laws, but they are not effective because a lot of the TV stations don’t have offices. Most of them are now digital, so they operate from anywhere. They can even have a Ghanaian TV station but be operating from Austria simply because it is digital,” he said.
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