Ghanaian-Nollywood actress, Juliet Ibrahim, has spoken out against the illegal broadcast of her films by television stations in Ghana, joining a growing list of creatives calling for stricter enforcement of intellectual property rights across the continent.
The issue, which began drawing attention in March after Nigerian actress Omoni Oboli accused several Ghanaian TV stations of airing her movies without proper licensing, has since snowballed. Just last week, Bimbo Ademoye raised similar concerns, alleging that a Ghanaian station used her movie title and poster without authorization.
In a detailed post shared on Instagram, Juliet Ibrahim revealed that she, too, has been a victim of piracy, despite her team’s continuous efforts to address the situation through formal channels.
“As an independent filmmaker, actress, director, and producer, I find it extremely disheartening to witness the blatant disregard for intellectual property rights by several TV stations operating within Ghana,” she wrote.
The actress explained that her films, originally and legally uploaded to her YouTube channel, Juliet Ibrahim Studios, have been illegally rebroadcast by unauthorized stations, including Pemsan TV.
“Over the past few months, I’ve observed that some of my films… have been pirated, rebroadcast, and exploited by unauthorized Ghanaian television stations, including Pemsan TV, without my permission or that of my team,” she said.
She further detailed the steps her management and legal representatives have taken, including cease and desist letters and direct communications with the networks, all of which have been ignored.
“Despite repeated efforts… Pemsan TV and others have continued to air my work unlawfully, ignoring our calls and refusing to do the needful.”
Ibrahim expressed solidarity with her Nigerian colleagues, stating: “This isn’t just happening to me. I stand in full support of my Nigerian colleagues, Omoni Oboli and Bimbo Ademoye… This is not just a Nigerian issue; it is an African issue, and as a Ghanaian, I am ashamed that our local media houses are playing a central role in such unethical and illegal activities.”
Describing piracy as a crime that endangers the livelihoods of creatives across the continent, she urged Ghanaian authorities to act decisively.
“We call on the rightful authorities including National Communications Authority (NCA), Ghana Copyright Office, Ghana Police Service, National Film Authority, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and Ghana Media Commission,” she said. “Please step in immediately. We need robust action, regulation, and enforcement to protect content creators and restore the dignity of our film industry.”
Juliet concluded by warning that continued piracy not only harms individuals but also tarnishes Ghana’s image as a cultural leader in Africa.
“This behavior brings disgrace not only to the perpetrators but also to the nation of Ghana as a whole… Africa’s creative economy deserves respect.”
