In the late 2000s, Ghanaian actors (Van Vicker, Majid Michel, Jackie Appiah, Nadia Buari, etc) were some of Nollywood biggest stars. They easily passed off as Nigerians.
– Almost overnight, we stopped seeing them in Nollywood until we got used to their absence. Many assumed the Gha-geria collaboration faded naturally.
– But, behind the scenes, was one of the biggest entertainment conflicts in African pop culture history.
– The Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) reportedly introduced strict rules for foreign filmmakers.
– FIPAG said: Only 1 Nigerian movie released weekly, and Nigerian producers must deposit $10,000 before shooting… at the time, minimum wage was ₦5,500.
– According to Socrate Safo, then FIPAG PRO, the policies was to protect Ghanaians in the local industry because some Nigerian producers spent heavily on stars like while treating Ghanaian film crews unfairly.
– Enforcing the policies didn’t go so well, In an interview, Jackie Appiah mentioned incidents where film equipment were reportedly seized during productions in Ghana.
– To adjust, Nigerian producers reduced shooting in Ghana and starring Ghanaian stars. That was the beginning of the end.
– Audiences across Africa never saw the divide the way industry executives did, to them, Nollywood and Ghanaian cinema meant unforgettable movies.
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