In recent months, a wave of frustration has swept through Nollywood as some of its biggest stars openly call out Ghanaian television stations for what they describe as brazen theft of their creative works.
From Omoni Oboli to Bimbo Ademoye and, most recently, Nosa Rex, the allegations are the same: their films are being broadcast in Ghana without consent, contracts, or compensation. And while the incidents happened separately, the pattern has sparked a bigger conversation on cross-border piracy and the respect (or lack thereof) for intellectual property in Africa’s entertainment space.
Different voices, same problem
It began with Omoni Oboli, who discovered one of her productions airing on a Ghanaian TV channel without her knowledge. Her outrage was echoed months later by Bimbo Ademoye, who expressed similar disappointment after stumbling on her work being screened in Ghana — again, without permission.
The most recent voice is that of Nosa Rex. In a video posted on his social media page, the actor lamented how his films were being shown in Ghana without his involvement, calling it disrespectful to filmmakers who invest heavily in their craft.
“I’ve said it before and I will say it again, Ghana’s entertainment industry will continue to be behind. Since there’s no one in the whole of Ghana to tell you guys that what you’re doing does not make sense. I’m using this opportunity to call out all the entertainment bodies in Ghana, all the TV stations are stupid and foolish, no disrespect to my fans because I love them but this is too much, enough is enough,” Rex said.
Continuing, he said, “I just released my new movie, ‘Prince of Peace’ and y’all are already airing it, don’t you know we spend money to shoot movies? If they watch on your TV station how will they stream on our channel? I’m also calling out all my Ghana actors, why are you not condemning this act? If this is happening in Lagos I’m sure I would have spoken out against it.”
The cost of piracy
While Nollywood has battled piracy for decades from street-side CD vendors to illegal streaming platforms, the infiltration by foreign broadcasters presents a new challenge. Industry experts argue that unauthorized airings in neighbouring countries strip producers of potential revenue, weaken the value of distribution rights, and discourage further investment.
A Nollywood distributor who spoke anonymously said, “Each time a film is aired without clearance, the producer loses not just money but also the opportunity to negotiate legitimate deals. This is revenue gone, audience data lost, and brand integrity damaged.”
A call for action
The recurring complaints have reignited calls for stronger enforcement of copyright laws across African borders. Stakeholders are urging both the Nigerian and Ghanaian governments to collaborate on protecting creatives and holding violators accountable.
For Nollywood, Africa’s most prolific film industry, the issue goes beyond a handful of celebrities crying foul. It is a matter of safeguarding the industry’s economic future. Without decisive action, piracy in any form whether online, on DVDs, or via unauthorized television broadcasts threatens to undo the progress made in elevating African storytelling on the global stage.
Until then, Nollywood’s stars, like Omoni Oboli, Bimbo Ademoye, and Nosa Rex, will continue to speak out not just for themselves, but for every filmmaker whose work deserves to be seen with respect, and paid for in full.
