‘No interference!’ - Producer of ‘The Eyes of Ghana’ rejects claims film is a CIA psyop

Anita Afonu, one of the producers of “The Eyes of Ghana” film, has dismissed claims and suspicions that the documentary is a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) psychological operation intended to influence public opinion.

Anita Afonu’s comments come amid criticism on social media over the documentary’s portrayal of Ghana’s history, particularly the events surrounding the overthrow of Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah, in the 1966 coup.

Some social media users have questioned whether the film will adequately address the CIA’s alleged involvement in efforts to undermine Nkrumah’s government and the circumstances that led to his removal from power.

One critic, commenting on the film, argued that it could turn out to be a United States government-backed narrative that glosses over the CIA’s alleged attempts to sabotage Ghana and remove Nkrumah, while portraying the former president primarily as a dictator.

However, Anita Afonu believes some of the conclusions being drawn about the documentary are premature, arguing that people are judging the film without having watched it.

Speaking to GhanaWeb’s Isaac Dadzie about the reactions on social media, she said the discussions taking place online do not necessarily reflect the film’s actual content.

IShowSpeed breaks silence on ‘Eyes of Ghana’ documentary

“I think the internet is not the real world. People are quick to jump to conclusions when they haven’t seen the film,” she said.

Anita Afonu also rejected suggestions that former United States President Barack Obama’s involvement in the project means the documentary could be part of a CIA operation.

Obama is an executive producer of The Eyes of Ghana through Higher Ground Productions, the production company he co-founded with his wife, Michelle Obama.

According to Afonu, Obama did not interfere with the documentary’s editing process or dictate how the story should be presented. She explained that he watched the completed film, expressed his approval and did not request any changes.

“President Obama did not sit behind us in the editing room, supervising every cut. He watched the film, he loved it, no notes, and that was it. No interference. This is absolutely not a CIA psyop,” she noted.

What ‘The Eyes of Ghana’ is about

“The Eyes of Ghana” is a documentary directed by two-time Academy Award winner Ben Proudfoot. It tells the story of 93-year-old Ghanaian cinematographer Chris Hesse and his efforts to preserve and return a collection of historical film footage documenting Ghana’s independence era and the wider African liberation movement.

Hesse served as the personal cameraman to Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah, capturing significant moments during a period when Ghana was emerging as an independent nation and becoming an important voice in the struggle for African liberation.

The documentary follows Hesse as he races against time and declining eyesight to preserve and repatriate more than 1,000 reels of historical footage.

According to the film’s synopsis, Hesse secretly moved the negatives to London following the 1966 coup that overthrew Nkrumah, preserving images that might otherwise have been lost.

The footage offers a visual record of Ghana’s political and social history, as well as events connected to the broader movement for independence across Africa during the 1950s and 1960s.

The Obama's and streamer IShowSpeed are producers.

The untold reason why Barrack Obama got involved in The Eye of Ghana documentary

Anita Afonu, one of the producers of "THE EYES OF GHANA" shares with GhanaWeb.

Presented by @ishowspeedsui, executive produced by @BarackObama and @MichelleObama, and directed by @bgproudfoot, THE EYES OF GHANA follows the story of Chris Hesse, thr personal cameraman to Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

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#ghanawebtv

— GhanaWeb (@TheGhanaWeb) October 19, 2026

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