Our movie industry is not dead; let’s prioritise film, creative arts – Shirley Frimpong Manso

Ghanaian film director, Shirley Frimpong Manso, has disputed claims that Ghana’s movie industry currently has no potential to thrive as expected.

She argued that the absence of local support for the industry is the main challenge.

In an interview on Hitz FM on June 18, 2025, Shirley highlighted the sharp contrast between Ghana’s film industry and Nigeria’s flourishing Nollywood industry.

“I don’t want to hear that it’s dead, because it’s not. People call it dead because the progress we expected over the years hasn’t happened. But that doesn’t mean there’s no potential,” she said.

According to Shirley, Nigerians have deliberately invested in the industry and infrastructure development, which have played a significant role in the success of their industry.

“Nigerians decided to invest in film as an art form that creates jobs, drives business, and makes an impact. They made funding available, built cinemas, and expanded them. That’s why they’re doing better than us,” she said.

She further emphasised that Ghana has all the necessary components for a flourishing film industry, noting that while the nation has talented actors and storytellers, enough priority is not given to the creative arts sector.

“We are good storytellers. We have great actors. What’s missing is that we don’t place enough importance on film and the creative arts. That’s where our problem lies,” she stated.

Shirley narrated that by virtue of her being a Ghanaian filmmaker, she has earned several international opportunities, which she insists prove the influence Ghanaian cinema can have globally.

“A lot of the opportunities I get abroad come simply because I’m a Ghanaian filmmaker. That shows the kind of impact our films can create. The industry isn’t dead, we can do much better,” she maintained.

She urged the private sector and the media to intensify their contributions to propel the movie industry forward, noting that the responsibility doesn’t lie solely with the government.

“We’ve produced films that examine critical societal issues. The industry needs everyone; government, private investors,” she added.