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.
Listen to the audio below…
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.
Thus, our notion or belief of GHALLYWOOD being an established and widely accepted name associated with the Ghana Film Industry was debunked.
We however, still decided to maintain the name with his permission and blessings being a pillar and owner in the industry with an official letter on the 10th October 2011, stating that the fact that WEST COAST ENTERTAINMENT GHANA LIMITED. “… West Coast Entertainment Ghana Limited promises to honour its allegiance to GHALLYWOOD and YOU in our bid to annually organise this pageant, thus protecting the registered Trademark of the Pageant from future encroachers…”.
While waiting for his reply we decided to launch our prize at the mall since time was not on our side for the event. Mr. Willie Akuffo finally decided to reply by advising WEST COAST ENTERTAINMENT GHANA LIMITED to withdraw our letter of registration of the trademark [MISS GHALLYWOOD PAGEANT] from the Registrar General before we could decide on what to do. This we thought was inconsistent on his part considering the fact that he had given us his blessings and advice to protect the Ghallywood name.
This case took different turn when Mr. Akuffo served us [West Coast Entertainment Ghana Limited] a letter his lawyers dated 14th November, 2011 on the UNAUTHORISED USE OF THE NAME “GHALLYWOOD”, that we had a seven [7] days ultimatum to stop the usage of the name else we will face a legal action.
Management of West Coast Entertainment Ghana Limited have decided after series of deliberations with share holders to avoid any court actions or injunctions and also to have a successful event hence, we have decided to withdraw our letter from the Registrar General.
We have therefore decided to name our pageant, MISS GOLDENWOOD BEAUTY & TALENT HUNT. This is because Ghana is blessed and associated with GOLD and the WOOD has been associated with the film industry all the way from America [HOLLYWOOD], India [BOLLYWOOD], and Nigeria [NOLLYWOOD]. It is only fair to belong to a bigger family with a common goal for international recognition.
Henceforth, the name of our pageant is MISS GOLDENWOOD TALENT HUNT.
Signed:
West Coast Entertainment Ghana Limited.
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