Nollywood star Mercy Johnson-Okojie has raised alarm over the unauthorized airing of her film The Firstborn by a Ghanaian television station, Blazing TV.
Taking to Instagram on Saturday, the actress expressed her disbelief and disappointment, accusing the station of broadcasting her movie without seeking permission from her or her management team.
In her words:
“Ghana, Blazing TV.
How is this even ok?
Blazing TV in Ghana is showing my movie, The Firstborn, on their TV without my consent.
How does this even make sense? How?I am speechless at the audacity of it all.”
Her reaction has once again brought attention to the growing concerns around copyright violations and content piracy affecting Nollywood producers and filmmakers.
Joining the conversation, actress and director Omoni Oboli also recently called out Ghanaian TV networks for airing Nigerian films without proper licensing, some of which were taken directly from YouTube.
Though she expressed love for her Ghanaian supporters, Omoni did not hold back in condemning the practice.
“I love my Ghanaian besties but this is shameful,” she said. “I will report you to your president. It’s a disgrace.”
The rising number of similar complaints from Nigerian creatives is fueling fresh calls for better cross-border copyright enforcement and stronger protection of intellectual property in Africa’s film industry.
