Award-winning American-based Ghanaian movie producer Leila Jewel Djansi has never been one to sugarcoat her opinions, and this time, she’s coming for Ghana’s film industry with some brutal honesty.
In a lengthy statement, she called out the deep-rooted issues plaguing the industry, urging stakeholders to face reality instead of making excuses.
Here are 12 hard-hitting truths she shared:
1. The Industry is a Joke – And Not a Funny One
“I have tasted and tested the Ghana film industry since the year 2000. Bled red blood for it and from it, and… it is a mirthless joke.” Djansi argues that while other industries are making progress, Ghana’s film scene remains stuck in a cycle of mediocrity.
2. Poor Work Ethic is Rampant
From assistant directors taking naps during shoots to crew members pausing production to watch football, the lack of professionalism is alarming. Djansi points out that these behaviors would be unthinkable in serious film industries.
3. Lack of Attention to Detail
She contrasts her experience in Ghana with a production in the Dominican Republic where a props guy presented her with eight different watches to choose from for just one scene. In Ghana? Some wardrobe departments don’t even provide costumes for smaller roles.
4. Dangerous Set Practices
She recalled a terrifying incident where a production designer handed an actor a real knife for a stabbing scene. If not for divine intervention, Vanessa Williams could have seriously injured John Dumelo.
5. Ghana is Losing the African Film Race
Djansi challenges filmmakers to compare Ghanaian films from the last three years with those from Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya, and South Africa. The difference, she says, is embarrassing.
6. Oscar Submissions Have Been a Mess
She reminds everyone that since Ghana’s 2018 Oscar submission Azali, every other submission has been “a literal joke.” Some films, she claims, are so bad they could make you want to burn your Ghana card.
7. The Talent is There, But the Work Ethic is Missing
It’s not about lacking great stories or talented people; it’s about refusing to do the hard work. The industry is chasing hype instead of focusing on substance.
8. Ghanaian Filmmakers Don’t Take Criticism Well
Djansi believes that instead of listening and improving, too many filmmakers react with anger or excuses when faced with criticism. “If your default is to always accuse people who correct you of hating or envy, you won’t be introspective, and you will not grow.”
9. Playing it Safe Won’t Cut It
A Hollywood agent once rejected Djansi, saying her films lacked “explosions.” At first, she was angry, but later, she realized the real message: take risks in storytelling. So, she went all out—burning down a house and a human being in her next film.
10. The Industry is Stuck in a Micro-Budget Trap
Filmmakers keep recycling the same tiny budgets with no proper distribution channels. “You’re waiting for Netflix? You will wait forever. Unless you change.”
11. Ghana is Still Paying for Opera Square’s Damage
Years ago, she warned about the harmful effects of piracy at Opera Square, but no one listened. Now, Ghanaian filmmakers have no proper distribution platforms.
12. “We Will Get There” is an Empty Phrase
Enough of the vague optimism. “We will get there—when? How?” Djansi challenges the industry to stop enduring mediocrity and start taking real action.
Final Thoughts: Time for Change
Leila Djansi isn’t just ranting—she’s challenging the industry to sit with criticism and use it to improve. Ghana has the talent, but without professionalism, bold storytelling, and a proper industry structure, it will continue to lag behind. Will the industry finally wake up, or will it keep making excuses?
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