The Ghana government has announced plans to sanction any television stations that air Nigerian films.

James Gardiner, the Deputy CEO of the Ghana National Film Authority, NFA, announced the country’s plans to crack down on television stations that broadcast Nigerian movies without authorisation.

James Gardiner made the announcement in video during a conversation with a Nigerian producer, Uchenna Mbunabo.

The Nigerian filmmaker had accused Ghanaian TV stations of downloading Nollywood movies from YouTube and airing them without authorisation.

Mbunabo said to him “I noticed that Ghanaian TV stations, the way they are stealing our films and showing them for free with impunity. Is it legalised in your country for TV stations to go on YouTube, download people’s sweat and show it for free?”

In response, Gardiner said “it’s not legalised.”

Mbunabo replied “What is your government doing about it.”

Gardiner answered “that’s the one of the big things that we’re trying to address. We’ve met with the ministry of communication together with NMC and NCA, they govern our TV station in the country. We’re trying to make law to revoke all licenses and all of them will now come to apply afresh.”

When asked “how long it will take.”

He replied, “by next year (2027), it should be done.”

Many Nigerians filmmakers including Bimbo Ademoye, Omoni Oboli, Mercy Johnson and Ruth Kadiri among others have earlier called out Ghana TV’s for illegally airing their films.