Ghana is taking a hard stance against television stations accused of illegally airing Nollywood films, with authorities warning that broadcasters who ignore copyright laws could soon pay a hefty price.
The country’s National Film Authority (NFA) has unveiled plans to tighten regulations and sanction TV stations that broadcast Nigerian movies without securing the necessary rights from producers.
The announcement came from the NFA’s Deputy CEO, James Gardiner, during a conversation with Nigerian filmmaker Uchenna Mbunabo, who confronted him over what he described as years of unchecked piracy.
Mbunabo accused some Ghanaian broadcasters of downloading Nollywood films from YouTube before airing them without permission or compensation.
I noticed that Ghanaian TV stations, the way they are stealing our films and showing them for free with impunity. Is it legalised in your country for TV stations to go on YouTube, download people’s sweat and show it for free?
Gardiner immediately dismissed the suggestion that such broadcasts were legal.
It is not legalised.
When Mbunabo asked what the Ghanaian government intended to do about the problem, Gardiner revealed that discussions were already underway with the Ministry of Communications, the National Communications Authority (NCA), and the National Media Commission (NMC).
According to him, one proposal under consideration would revoke the licences of all television stations before requiring them to reapply under stricter broadcasting regulations.
That is one of the big things that we are trying to address. We’ve met with the Ministry of Communications together with the NMC and NCA. We are trying to make a law to revoke all licences, and all of them will now come and apply afresh.
Asked when the reforms could take effect, Gardiner expressed optimism that the process would be completed next year.
By next year (2027), it should be done.
The announcement comes after years of frustration among Nollywood producers, many of whom have accused some Ghanaian television stations of profiting from their work without paying for broadcast rights.
Popular actresses and producers, including Bimbo Ademoye, Omoni Oboli, Mercy Johnson and Ruth Kadiri, have previously spoken out against the alleged unauthorised broadcasts, calling for stronger copyright enforcement across the continent.
If Ghana follows through with the proposed reforms, broadcasters found violating copyright laws could face fines, licence suspensions or even lose their right to operate altogether.
For Nollywood filmmakers, the planned crackdown could mark a major step toward protecting one of Africa’s biggest entertainment industries from piracy.