“Is It Legal?” – Nollywood Producer Questions Alleged Piracy of Nigerian Films in Ghana

Nigerian film producer Uchenna Mbunabo has raised concerns over the alleged unauthorised airing of Nigerian movies by some Ghanaian television stations, questioning whether such practices have become acceptable within Ghana’s broadcasting space.

The filmmaker made the remarks 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 growing concerns about copyright infringement and the challenges facing filmmakers across the African film industry.

According to Uchenna Mbunabo, some television stations in Ghana are allegedly downloading newly released Nigerian movies from online platforms such as YouTube and broadcasting them without seeking permission or acquiring the necessary rights from producers.

He questioned why such actions continue to happen without consequences.

“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?” he asked James Gardiner.

The producer added that he is disappointed whenever he sees television stations showing films without the consent of the creators who invested time, money and resources into producing them.

Responding to the concerns, James Gardiner explained that Ghana has copyright laws in place, but enforcing them has become increasingly difficult due to changes in the television broadcasting landscape, particularly with the growth of digital platforms.

He noted that some digital television stations now operate remotely from outside Ghana, making it harder for regulatory authorities to monitor their activities and hold them accountable for copyright violations.

“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,” Gardiner said.

He revealed that the National Film Authority has begun engaging key institutions and stakeholders to address copyright challenges affecting filmmakers and develop long-term solutions.

According to him, the Authority has held discussions with the Ministry of Communications, the National Communications Authority (NCA), and the National Media Commission (NMC), institutions responsible for regulating Ghana’s communication and broadcasting sectors.

Gardiner further explained that while Ghana’s copyright framework exists, the rapid transformation of the media industry has created new challenges for regulators, especially as more broadcasters move online and operate without traditional physical structures.

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