Nollywood actress and filmmaker Iyabo Ojo has publicly accused a Ghanaian television station of illegally broadcasting her latest movie, The Memory of You, less than 24 hours after its official release.
The actress expressed her frustration on social media, alleging that NETV, a television station in Ghana, aired the film without obtaining permission, acquiring a broadcasting licence, or paying any licensing fees. Her outburst has reignited concerns about copyright infringement and the persistent challenge of movie piracy affecting the Nigerian film industry.
Iyabo Ojo calls out Ghanaian TV station
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According to Iyabo Ojo, the alleged copyright violation occurred only 21 hours after she premiered the final episodes of The Memory of You.
The actress released the movie on Friday at 5:00 p.m., expecting fans to enjoy the film through authorised channels. However, by Saturday afternoon, she claimed the production had already been broadcast on Ghanaian television without her consent.
In a strongly worded Instagram post, the actress condemned the station’s actions, describing them as outright theft of intellectual property.
“My movie THE MEMORY OF YOU 1 & 2 is being aired on TV channels in Ghana without my permission. No call. No licence. No payment. Just pure theft,” she wrote.
She further criticised NETV and any other television stations allegedly engaging in similar practices.
“You cannot build your channel on the backs of filmmakers and expect us to keep quiet,” she added.
Calls on Ghanaian authorities to act
Beyond calling out the television station, Iyabo Ojo appealed directly to the Government of Ghana, urging authorities to take decisive action against broadcasters accused of pirating films.
She specifically mentioned Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, the National Film Authority (NFA), and the country’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, asking them to enforce existing copyright laws.
According to the actress, Ghana already has legal provisions designed to protect intellectual property under the Copyright Act, 2005 (Act 690).
She reminded authorities that the National Film Authority had previously warned television stations that airing unauthorised content could result in licence suspension or complete revocation.
“Now is the time to act on that warning,” she urged.
Piracy continues to hurt Nollywood
Iyabo Ojo stressed that movie production requires enormous financial investment, years of planning, and the dedication of countless professionals working behind the scenes.
She argued that piracy undermines the sustainability of the creative industry by depriving filmmakers of legitimate income while discouraging future investment.
“We filmmakers pour our lives, money and years into this craft,” she said.
“Piracy kills creativity, kills jobs, and kills investment.”
She added that Nigerian filmmakers are no longer asking for sympathy but demanding stronger protection for their intellectual property rights.
“We are not asking for favours. We are demanding what is rightfully ours: respect and protection for our intellectual property. Enough is enough.”
Ghana moves against illegal broadcasts
Iyabo Ojo’s complaint comes only days after the Ghana National Film Authority (NFA) announced plans to intensify efforts against television stations illegally broadcasting Nigerian movies.
The authority recently disclosed that it intends to clamp down on stations found airing copyrighted films without obtaining proper licences from content owners.
The announcement followed repeated complaints from several Nollywood producers and actors who have accused some Ghanaian broadcasters of downloading movies from YouTube or other online platforms before airing them without permission.
The NFA warned that offending television stations could face severe sanctions, including suspension or revocation of their operating licences.
Nigerian filmmakers speak out
Iyabo Ojo is not the first Nollywood star to raise concerns over alleged piracy in Ghana.
Several prominent filmmakers, including Bimbo Ademoye, Omoni Oboli, Mercy Johnson, and Ruth Kadiri, have previously accused some Ghanaian television stations of illegally broadcasting their productions.
Many producers have argued that while digital platforms have expanded access to African films globally, they have also made it easier for unauthorised broadcasters to copy and redistribute content without compensating creators.
Industry stakeholders have repeatedly called for stronger collaboration between Nigerian and Ghanaian authorities to tackle cross-border copyright violations.
Growing demand for stronger copyright enforcement
The latest controversy has once again highlighted the need for more effective enforcement of intellectual property laws across Africa’s entertainment industry.
As Nollywood continues to grow into one of the world’s largest film industries, producers are increasingly demanding tougher penalties against piracy to protect the livelihoods of actors, directors, producers, editors, cinematographers and countless others who contribute to film production.
For now, neither NETV nor Ghanaian authorities have publicly responded to Iyabo Ojo’s allegations.
However, with the Ghana National Film Authority already promising stricter action against copyright offenders, many industry observers will be watching closely to see whether the latest complaint leads to concrete enforcement measures.
Learn more about Ghana’s copyright and film regulations through the Ghana National Film Authority: https://nfa.gov.gh/
