Ghanaian actress and filmmaker, Juliet Ibrahim, has condemned some television stations in Ghana for violating intellectual property rights by rebroadcasting her films without permission.
According to Ibrahim, the pirated films were originally uploaded to her official YouTube channel but have since been aired by unauthorized stations, despite multiple cease and desist notices.
She called on the relevant authorities to take decisive action to protect the rights of content creators, stressing that piracy poses a serious threat to livelihoods and the growth of the film industry.
“This isn’t merely an issue for Ghana; it’s a challenge facing the entire African creative sector,” Ibrahim stated, showing support for her Nigerian colleagues who are likewise dealing with comparable copyright infringements.
She urged governments and regulatory bodies to enforce copyright laws and support the sustainability of the continent’s creative sector.
Ibrahim shared on Instagram: “Being an independent filmmaker, actress, director, and producer deeply saddens me as I see the flagrant disrespect towards copyright laws demonstrated by various TV channels in Ghana. In recent months, I’ve noticed that some of my films—initially and legitimately posted on our official YouTube channel, Juliet Ibrahim Studios—are being pirated, replayed, and used unlawfully by unapproved TV stations such as Pemsan TV in Ghana, without seeking consent from myself or my crew.”
“In spite of numerous attempts made by both my management team and legal advisors—who have issued cease and desist notices, reached out to these networks personally, and provided a chance for a formal settlement—Pemsan TV along with several others persistently broadcast my content without authorization, disregarding our communications and declining to take appropriate action.”
Read Also:
Mercy Chinwo: VeryDarkMan Responds to Arrest Warrant, Claims Conspiracy
This issue isn’t exclusive to me. I fully back my Nigerian counterparts, Omoni Oboli and Bimbo Ademoye, as they voice their opposition to the theft of their creative productions.
This isn’t merely a problem for Nigeria; it’s an issue affecting all of Africa. As someone from Ghana, I feel embarrassed that our local media outlets are actively participating in these unlawful and immoral practices.
Piracy constitutes an illegal act. Using another person’s copyrighted material without permission equates to stealing. This practice erodes substantial investments in time, innovation, and resources committed by all contributors to the creative process, including performers, filmmakers, and technicians.
We urge the appropriate bodies: National Communications Authority (NCA), @ncaghana, Ghana Copyright Office, and Ghana Police Service @ghpoliceservice.
National Film Authority @nationalfilmauthority, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture @mymotac, Ghana Media Commission.
Kindly intervene without delay. Strong measures, regulations, and their strict implementation are necessary to safeguard content producers and reinstate the honor of our cinematic sector. Such conduct disgraces not just those involved but also the entire country of Ghana, which ought to stand as a model of quality in arts and culture. The creative economy of Africa merits recognition.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).