Ghana to Crack Down on TV Stations Airing Nigerian Movies Without Authorisation

West Africa WeeklyJuly 16, 20261 Mins read474

The Ghanaian government has announced plans to sanction any television stations that broadcast Nigerian films without proper authorisation, following sustained complaints from Nollywood filmmakers over copyright infringement. The move comes after Nigerian producer Uchenna Mbunabo confronted Ghana’s National Film Authority (NFA) over the widespread practice of local stations downloading Nollywood movies from YouTube and airing them for free without permission.

James Gardiner, Deputy CEO of the Ghana National Film Authority, acknowledged during a recorded conversation with Mbunabo that the practice is illegal. He revealed that the NFA has engaged Ghana’s Ministry of Communications, the National Communications Authority (NCA), and the National Media Commission (NMC) to address the issue. Gardiner explained that authorities are considering revoking all existing television licences and requiring broadcasters to reapply under stricter terms, with the process expected to be completed by 2027.

Several high-profile Nigerian filmmakers, including Bimbo Ademoye, Omoni Oboli, Mercy Johnson and Ruth Kadiri, have previously called out Ghanaian TV stations for illegally airing their films. Gardiner noted that enforcement has become difficult because many stations now operate digitally, some from outside Ghana, making them harder to regulate. Under the proposed framework, stations found guilty of illegal broadcasts would face fines, licence suspensions and eventual revocation for repeat offenders.