In the aftermath of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) held in Nigeria, actress Gloria Sarfo publicly criticized the event organizers over logistical issues that left some Ghanaian filmmakers stranded at the airport.

Judith Oluwole Kuwornu, the Country Director for AMAA in Ghana, recently addressed these accusations in an interview on Hitz FM’s Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, offering her perspective on the incident and expressing her disappointment over the handling of the matter.

“I have sent her a message of apology,” Judith said, explaining that she had personally reached out to Sarfo in hopes of resolving the issue. “I’m sorry this happened. I’m also sorry that it’s going this way.”

READ ALSO: 5 Revelations from Gloria Sarfo’s Criticism of AMAA Organizers

According to Judith, her efforts to connect directly with Sarfo went unacknowledged, as the actress opted to express her grievances publicly.

Reflecting on her disappointment, Judith explained, “Because [this is] somebody that is close to me and could not have communicated with me. ‘Judith, what happened?’ and all that. She never did that. All I saw was that she was going all over the place.

“But it’s okay, you know bad news is also sometimes good news.” She acknowledged that the negative attention could also serve as unintended promotion, saying, “Maybe you are trying to reignite the face of AMAA for us in our own way.”

Adding a sense of gratitude to the narrative, Judith shared that, despite the chaos, some of the industry veterans reached out with words of understanding and support.

“There were so many veterans that were there who called and said, ‘Judith, we understand this thing so don’t worry… You have been doing this with us for the past 20 years; we have never experienced this,’” she shared, appreciating their loyalty and understanding.

For over two decades, Judith has played a central role in organizing the AMAAs in Ghana, building strong relationships with the filmmaking community.

Her handling of this incident, while expressing regret over the logistics issue, also reflected her frustration at the lack of direct communication with Sarfo. For Judith, the situation could have been handled privately, in a manner befitting the longstanding rapport she shares with Ghana’s film industry.

The AMAAs, established in 2005, have become a prestigious platform celebrating African cinema, recognizing talents across the continent.

As the awards grow in international acclaim, logistical challenges are not uncommon. This year’s incident, however, underscores the importance of clear communication and contingency planning to support filmmakers in attending the ceremony.

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