The Chief Executive Officer of Kofas Media, Kofi Asamoah, has dismissed claims that Ghana’s movie industry is dead, stressing that the sector is more vibrant today than in the past.
Speaking on Starr Showbiz with Feeling Daddy on Starr 103.5 FM on Saturday, September 13, Kofi Asamoah said perceptions of collapse are largely due to outdated expectations from audiences who fail to recognise the evolution of film distribution and consumption.
“The Ghana movie industry is not dead. I am just an individual case… I used to make a lot of movies, now I don’t anymore because of attention on other endeavours,” he explained, noting that he is now focused on advertising and corporate communications.
He argued that the industry is thriving on new platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, where many Ghanaian producers and content creators now release movies and series. “If you go on YouTube today, the quantum of content there from Ghana is overwhelming. There’s never been anything like that in the past,” he said.
Asamoah criticised Ghanaians who dismiss the industry without engaging with its current output. “Somebody came to Ghana one time and asked how they could watch a Ghana movie. The person was told we don’t make Ghana movies anymore, when they hadn’t even been to Silverbird cinemas or checked YouTube,” he recounted.
He stressed that the industry’s struggles have often been linked to its slow adaptation to new technologies, recalling how Ghana lagged when the world moved from VCDs to DVDs and then to digital platforms. “By the time we migrated, Nigerians and other industries were long gone,” he said.
He urged big producers to embrace digital monetisation. “Now YouTube is giving money, Facebook is giving money, TikTok is giving money. But big producers think these are not areas they should endeavour in, so they’ve left it for content creators, TikTokers, and Kumawood filmmakers,” he noted.
He also highlighted new opportunities on TV and streaming platforms. “Look at Akwaaba Magic, look at Canal+. There are more productions now than in the past. There are more producers, more film companies, and more actors now than before,” he said.
He suggested that nostalgia for old stars like Jackie Appiah, John Dumelo, and Majid Michel often misleads people into thinking the industry has declined. “Since they are not seeing Jackie Appiah in new movies, then the industry is dead. No, it is not,” he stressed.
Pointing to recent productions such as The Funeral of Kwade, Asamoah insisted the sector is vibrant and accessible if audiences embrace new platforms. “I dare anyone who thinks the Ghana movie industry is dead to go on YouTube or Google and type in new Ghana movies,” he said.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
