Where Are The Ghanaian Movie Directors? Have They Been Sidelined By Their Nigerian Counterparts?

Contrary to what many people think, there are essentially enough movie directors in Ghana. The only problem is that, they don’t get scripts to direct.

Several reasons have been given for their inability to get scripts. The most common of all the reasons is, they are not fully committed at their job as movie directors, whereas the Nollywood directors are said to be the exact opposite.

From movies released, it appears that movie directors from Nollywood have been offered permanent seats in the Ghana Movie Industry –demoting their counterparts in Ghana to the background. They seem to have taken over their jobs.

The presence of Nollywood movie directors inGhanais very noticeable. Their number is huge and the list is a tall one. If a movie is not directed by Phil Bernard then it will be Ish Thompson or Willie Ajenge or maybe Ofam Okereke. If it is not Ifeanyi Onyeabor and Tchidi Chikere or John Izedonmi then your guess will be right, because it will certainly be Frank Raja Arase or Pascal Amanfo.

And the list keeps growing. Where are the Ghanaian movie directors?

In GhanaCelebrities.Com’s interaction with some of the biggest movie producers inGhanawho pleaded to remain anonymous, they mentioned that top movie producers prefer to offer their scripts to Nollywood movie directors to direct at the expense of the Ghanaians.

The Nigerian directors are said to be very well involved in their jobs but same can’t be said of the Ghanaian directors. The only way to avoid embarrassment or disgrace is to learn. According to the top producers, the Nigerian directors keep updating themselves, something that remains a dream to their Ghanaian counterparts.


So what happened to all the National Film and Television Institute [NAFTI] students who graduate annually? What has happened to the Ernest Kofi Abbeyquayes, the William Akuffos, the Samuel Nais and wife Veronica Quarshie Nai [Princess Films], the Sam Fiscians, the Harry Lauds, the Akwetey Kanyi Ashiagbors, the Bob Smiths (Diabolo Man)?

Their whereabouts is not readily known but most of them have left the movie business whiles some appear jaded or close to bankruptcy.

The only few active directors in Ghana now are Socrate Safo, Augustine Abbey (Idikoko), Shirley Frimpong Manso and Leila Djansi. Each of them only direct movies they produce themselves or movies they are involved in…

This might say a lot about their commitment to their jobs. A school of thought says that, if they are indeed committed to their jobs, why are they not offered scripts to direct? Why are their own compatriots not trusting them with scripts?

I’m aware of a very comical explanation that has crowded the minds Ghanaian movie directors as to why they don’t get scripts from Ghanaian producers apart from directing their own movies.

They are not trusted with scripts because it is believed that, they cannot deliver. They also know that, their counterparts will not be pleased with their work, so they shy away from it.

I’m waiting for the day when Ghanaian producers will put their pride and ego away and offer scripts to their counterparts to direct. And such day will be pleasant if the Ghanaian directors are able to efficiently deliver as well.

It is refreshing to know that Kobi Rana is being given the opportunity to direct different scripts apart from his own scripts. The others must step up their game to be able to receive jobs from other producers!