Renowned Ghanaian filmmaker Samuel Darko, popularly known as SamDakus, has sparked renewed controversy in the creative industry with his bold claim that Ghana has no real movie industry—only fragmented groups pretending to be one.
In a recent interview, SamDakus held nothing back as he gave a raw and candid critique of the current state of the Ghanaian film scene.
“There’s no movie industry in Ghana. What we have here are just mere associations. Nothing is structured, nothing is regulated,” he asserted.
According to SamDakus, the so-called industry lacks a central, authoritative body to oversee, coordinate, and regulate operations across the entire film value chain—from production to distribution and exhibition.
He pointed out that groups like the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) and the Actors Guild are simply fragmented bodies operating in silos, with no overarching system or policy direction.
“An industry is built on structure, governance, funding systems, and standards. But in Ghana, all we see are informal groups with no unifying vision,” he added.
SamDakus’ powerful remarks come at a critical moment, as discussions around revitalizing and reshaping Ghana’s film industry continue to grow. Many view his critique as a necessary wake-up call, urging stakeholders to rise above fragmented association politics and advocate for a comprehensive national film policy to properly structure and formalize the sector.
