Veteran Ghanaian actor Fred Amugi has blamed persistent rivalry and disunity among industry players for the decline of Ghana’s movie industry, warning that the sector has fallen behind other African film industries.

The actor made the remarks while speaking at the funeral rites of late Ghanaian actress Beverly Afaglo, where he reflected on her concerns about the direction of the industry and the legacy she hoped to leave behind.

According to Fred Amugi, a culture of personal interest among stakeholders has repeatedly prevented collective efforts to strengthen the industry.

“This ‘if it is not me it can’t be anybody’ attitude has divided our front. She kept asking, ‘What are we doing? What are we doing? What are we doing?’ But when things don’t go the way people want, they just back out,” he stated.

He said Beverly Afaglo, who was passionate about the welfare of actors, wanted the Actors Guild of Ghana to become a formidable body capable of competing with similar organisations across the continent.

“She would have wanted the Actors Guild to get far ahead in Africa. But I think we are now at the bottom in Africa. It does not bode well at all for our industry,” he said.

Fred Amugi also mourned Beverly Afaglo, describing her death as a painful loss to the creative community. He recalled being introduced to the actress through her elder sister, Princess, whom he had worked with in theatre.

“It is a big blow to hear that Beverly, among the lots, is gone,” he said.

While acknowledging the pain of losing the actress, Fred Amugi urged mourners to accept her death as part of life and maintain their faith.

“We will cry because we loved her, but the One who brought her into the world loves her even more. He has every right to call His daughter home when her work is done. We should grieve but also have faith because it is a path we shall all travel,” he said.

On whether veteran performers receive adequate recognition for their contribution to Ghana’s entertainment industry, the celebrated actor said public appreciation remains meaningful to him.

“It depends on how you define celebration. People see me, appreciate me and treat me with so much respect. That alone tells me what they think of me. I’m not expecting everything in the world. Whatever little I get, and the genuine happiness people show me, I’m okay with it,” he added.

Fred Amugi’s comments have reignited discussion about the long-standing challenges confronting Ghana’s film sector, particularly the need for stronger professional structures and greater cooperation among actors and other industry stakeholders.