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Socrate Safo Blames TV Stations For Collapsing Ghana’s Movie Industry

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Veteran Ghanaian filmmaker, Socrate Safo, has linked the collapse of Ghana’s movie industry to the decision by producers to flood television stations with films, a move he says has drained revenue and crippled sales.

Speaking on GhanaWeb Entertainment’s X Space on September 12, 2025, Safo argued that the choice to hand over movies to TV stations has been disastrous, leaving producers unable to recover investments or even break even.

“Out of ignorance, we are where we are. What am I going to do with TV? When I go there, it will kill my business. Nobody is listening, and I am tired of talking. Producers are losing money. People go there, produce movies, and cannot break even. It is so frustrating. TV stations have so many films,” he said.

According to Safo, this glut of films has not only discouraged audiences from buying CDs but has also left television channels oversaturated. He recalled that years ago, TV3 even told filmmakers they had more than enough movies and did not need new ones. “Ignorance is what has brought us here. TV stations have killed our business,” he added.

READ ALSO: Not Every Movie Belongs In Cinemas – Gloria Sarfo Calls Out Ghana’s Movie Standards

Apart from television, Safo expressed concerns about how cinema premieres are wrongly treated as part of Ghana’s distribution model. He argued that relying on premieres instead of building strong distribution channels is another mistake the industry has normalized.

“Check the records apart from the night of the premiere, how many films can fill the halls even for three days in Silver Bird. Now, the premier is considered part of the distribution. Premier isn’t part of our main distributions,” Safo explained.

He emphasized that cinema owners had warned of the dangers years ago but were ignored. “Look at the mentality now, it’s become the norm. Ignorance is what has brought us here. When you meet owners of cinema halls, they will tell you, they don’t understand what is happening right now because they warned us when we started giving our movies to TV stations,” Socrate Safo stated.

Piesie Esther Reveals Kuami Eugene’s Key Role in Creating Hit Song Nyame Ye

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Award-winning Ghanaian gospel musician Piesie Esther has opened up about the collaborative effort that produced her hit single Nyame Ye, crediting highlife star Kuami Eugene with adding the “missing link” to the song.

Speaking on Hitz FM’s Daybreak Hitz, Piesie hitmaker revealed that although she had written most of the lyrics, she sensed the track needed an extra spark that only Kuami Eugene could provide.

“While recording, I just knew the song needed a Kuami Eugene effect,” she recounted. “I called him, and he scheduled a session for me. I went and sang my rehearsed lines on Nyame Ye, and immediately, he knew the missing factor. He chipped in some lines and added his unique touch, and I just knew we had created magic.”

According to Piesie Esther, Eugene’s input transformed the record, injecting energy, polish, and a memorable hook that elevated it to a masterpiece. “What impressed me most was his instinctive understanding of what the record lacked, as well as the production effect and hook to make it stand out,” she said.

She also praised the “Wish Me Well” singer for his professionalism, noting that he worked with her seamlessly even while travelling internationally. “That’s when I realized that music writing is not just about talent; it comes with its own special grace,” she added.

Touching on the often-debated topic of secular artistes writing for gospel musicians, Piesie Esther emphasised that songwriting transcends genre boundaries. “It takes the grace of God for one to be blessed with such talent,” she remarked.

Her comments have drawn praise from fans who say her openness highlights the power of collaboration across genres in Ghana’s music industry.

Not Every Movie Belongs In Cinemas – Gloria Sarfo Calls Out Ghana’s Movie Standards

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Ghanaian actress Gloria Sarfo has expressed a serious concern that the Ghanaian movie industry is struggling to distinguish between movies intended for the cinema and those better suited for online platforms such as YouTube.

She said some productions screened in cinemas should never have made it past streaming platforms. Sarfo argued that the lack of clear categorisation is one of the biggest challenges holding the industry back.

Speaking during GhanaWeb’s X Space on September 12, 2025, the actress compared Ghana’s situation to Nigeria, where filmmakers have created a structure that separates cinema releases from YouTube content. She believes this system has helped Nigeria maintain standards while also producing films that serve different audiences.

“I always make reference to Nigerians, and people are sometimes not happy. But one thing I know is, they have their movies that go on YouTube. They have their YouTube movies; they have their cinema movies. I think if we adapt that, it will help, because not every movie is supposed to be on YouTube and not every movie is supposed to be in the cinemas,” she explained.

Gloria noted that the practice in Ghana is often the reverse, where films other countries would upload to YouTube are instead given cinema premieres locally.

READ ALSO: Piesie Esther Says It’s Normal If Empress Gifty Was Not Congratulated After Ghana Music Awards USA Win

“But here in Ghana, some movies that other countries take to YouTube are what we are taking to the cinemas. Let’s be frank… some of the movies that are taken to the cinemas are just mind-blowing. I’m like, ‘Hello, should this really be a cinema movie?’” she said.

She stressed that without making such distinctions, Ghana’s film industry will continue to struggle to meet international standards and compete globally.

“We should be able to differentiate, so that we know not every movie should be taken to the cinema. Until we get to know that, we can’t meet the global market,” Gloria added.

Piesie Esther Says It’s Normal If Empress Gifty Was Not Congratulated After Ghana Music Awards USA Win

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Gospel singer Piesie Esther has finally broken her silence following the heated debate surrounding this year’s Ghana Music Awards USA.

The controversy began when Empress Gifty was crowned Artiste of the Year at the 2025 edition, edging out King Promise, Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale, Diana Hamilton, Joe Mettle, Fameye, and KiDi. After her win, Empress Gifty’s husband, Hopeson Adorye, stirred conversation in a viral video, questioning why fellow gospel artists had not congratulated his wife.

In response, Piesie Esther explained that such reactions are not unusual. Speaking on Power FM, she said she saw nothing wrong if Gifty had not received public praise from her colleagues.

READ ALSO: President Mahama Hints At Allocating Funds For Creative Arts

She recalled facing the same situation herself two years ago when she was honoured with the top award at the Ghana Music Awards USA.

“I won the Ghana Music Awards USA Artiste of the Year in 2023, and no one congratulated me. So it is normal,” Esther said.

Watch a video of her statement below.

Tima Kumkum Shuts Down Divorce Rumours, Explains Why She Stopped Wearing Her Wedding Ring

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Celebrated Ghanaian media personality Tima Kumkum has finally addressed swirling rumours about her marriage after being spotted without her wedding ring in recent weeks.

In a candid Instagram post, Tima Kumkum clarified that her decision to remove the ring had nothing to do with marital problems.

Instead, she revealed that the jewellery had caused an allergic reaction on her finger.

Sharing a close-up video of her hand, Tima explained:

“Hello lovely people 💕, I initially didn’t want to address this, but I believe it’s important to clear the air. Recently, I experienced a skin reaction from wearing my ring, so I had to pause for some time to allow proper healing. 🙏🏽”

The mother of three reassured her fans that her marriage to Dominic Duodu, whom she wed last year, remains intact. She also provided an update on her recovery, noting that her finger had healed and she would soon resume wearing her ring.

“Thankfully, I am now fully recovered and you’ll soon see me wear my rings again. ✨ Please rest assured there’s nothing more to it, no hidden issues, no cause for concern,” she added.

Tima also used the opportunity to advise Ghanaians to be mindful of how their skin reacts to jewellery, urging them to take breaks when necessary to avoid irritation.

Apostle Kwadwo Safo Dies

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Ghana is mourning the death of Apostle Kwadwo Safo, widely regarded as both a spiritual leader and a trailblazer in science and industry. The founder of the Kristo Asafo Church and the Kantanka Group of Companies died on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at the age of 77.

His death was confirmed in a statement issued Sunday morning by his daughter, Sarah Adwoa Safo, a former Minister of Gender and Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya.

Born on August 26, 1948, Apostle Safo became a household name for his extraordinary versatility. Dubbed “The Star of Africa,” he was recognized not only as a preacher but also as an inventor, physicist, chemist, biologist, agriculturalist, and philanthropist.

He created the Great KOSA network of companies and served as chairman of the Kantanka Group, which gave birth to Kantanka Automobile. The company won acclaim for producing vehicles tailored to African needs, including the Kantanka Omama SUV and the Onantefo pickup truck.

Through the Kristo Asafo Mission, Apostle Safo fused religious vision with industrial advancement, carving out a reputation as a symbol of Ghanaian innovation and technological progress.

Read the statement below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE PASSING OF APOSTLE KWADWO SAFO

With profound sorrow and deepest grief, the Safo Family and the Kristo Asafo Church announce the peaceful passing of Ghana’s beloved man of God, the greatest technological icon, philanthropist, agriculturalist, and industrialist popularly referred to as “Kantanka, the African Star”.

Our dearest Father passed away peacefully on Thursday, 11th September 2025.

Romans 14:8 states; “For if we live, we live to the Lord and if we die, we die to the Lord”.

Apostle Safo was a true genius, the beacon of hope for many, a father to the fatherless. Ghana has indeed lost a galant son and a true legend.

His unique persona was shaped by his life struggles, dreams, resilience, courage, determination and dedication to His calling and conviction.

During this time of grief, we humbly request that the general public respects the privacy of the family and loved ones.

The burial and funeral arrangements shall be duly communicated in the coming days

Signed

Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo (Esq)

President Mahama Hints At Allocating Funds For Creative Arts

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President John Dramani Mahama has hinted that the government will dedicate resources to Ghana’s creative and cultural sectors in the upcoming national budget.

Speaking at a media engagement on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, he highlighted fresh policy measures that will channel direct support into the creative industry.

“The Blackstar Experience will take off. They have been working on all the foundational issues and you will soon see a sign of it. In the next budget we are going to make some allocation for the creative arts, for the film fund, to support Kumawood and all the film makers, to support the music industry, to support the arts, and all that. We need to put our money where our mouths are, and I think that the creative arts are a good representation of our culture and who we are as a people,” he said.

READ ALSO: Sammy Flex Slams DJ Slim Over Mockery Of Shatta Wale And Stonebwoy Comparisons

The president stressed the importance of creative industries when asked about the state of the sector, noting its potential to drive economic progress more rapidly than traditional areas of production.

“Creative industries create jobs faster than the traditional sectors that we have known. The cocoa sector or manufacturing creates one job; the creative sector, digitalisation, knowledge industry, arts and things would have created five jobs. And so that is an area in which we have to continue to invest. And that is why we created that as a ministry together with tourism,” President Mahama stated.

By pointing to the film fund, Kumawood, music and the arts, Mahama positioned the cultural space as central to national identity and job creation, stressing the need for stronger public investment to sustain its growth.

Sammy Flex Slams DJ Slim Over Mockery Of Shatta Wale And Stonebwoy Comparisons

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Sammy Flex, the Public Relations Officer for dancehall artiste Shatta Wale, has strongly responded to DJ Slim after a tweet that appeared to ridicule the musician.

DJ Slim recently posted on X, criticizing Shatta Wale over his repeated claims that Stonebwoy earns little to nothing from international shows. He argued that Stonebwoy has remained consistent, performing on major international stages, while Shatta Wale continues to play in what he described as “the bushes.”

READ ALSO: Akwaboah Jnr Names Fameye His Confidant In The Music Industry

In reaction, Sammy Flex addressed the issue in a video posted on his YouTube channel. He said he was troubled to see such remarks coming from DJ Slim, someone he expected to know better given his experience in the entertainment industry. According to him, Slim’s comment reflected ignorance rather than insight.

Sammy Flex went on to describe Slim’s take as shallow-minded and lacking real substance. He questioned the purpose behind Slim’s mockery, suggesting that most of his posts amounted to lies or meaningless statements rather than constructive contributions.

Watch his reaction below.

Akwaboah Jnr Names Fameye His Confidant In The Music Industry

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Ghanaian artiste, Akwaboah Jnr, has revealed that Fameye is the one person he turns to whenever he needs support in the music industry.

Speaking with Andy Dosty on Hitz FM, Akwaboah described his relationship with Fameye as genuine and rare in an industry he believes often lacks unity. He explained that Fameye is not only a friend but someone he can confide in without hesitation.

“There is one person whom I talk a lot with, we share our problems, and that is Fameye. He is a perfect guy. When we talk, he will tell you the reality in life… He is the only person I can invite home so we can talk,” Akwaboah said.

READ ALSO: He Was My Mentor, I Still Miss Him – Akwaboah Jnr Speaks On Father’s Death

The singer compared this bond with the broader creative arts space, where he feels colleagues usually reach out only when they need something from him. “We don’t love ourselves in this industry. They only come to you when they need something from you, but after that, they will ignore you,” he added.

Recalling how their friendship began, Akwaboah stated, “We became friends when we went to the state. We grew closer, and ever since, we have remained close, sharing things that no one knows.”

Akwaboah opens up about Sarkodie’s deep advice to him on how to handle trolls

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Award-winning Ghanaian highlife musician and songwriter, Gladstorm Kwabena Akwaboah Jnr, popularly known as Akwaboah, has opened up about how he learned to manage social media trolls in the entertainment industry.

Speaking in an interview with Roselyn Felli on Joy Prime’s Changes show, Akwaboah disclosed that it was none other than his former label boss, Sarkodie, who guided him on how to cope with online criticism.

Akwaboah recounted how Sarkodie’s experience with trolls after his collaboration with American rapper Ace Hood became a teaching moment for him.

“I was really upset and asked why there was so much backlash. Sark just told me, ‘Welcome to the world; this is exactly what you’re going to see once you’re up there, and this is how you must answer or respond,’” Akwaboah shared.

According to him, while his father—legendary highlife musician Akwaboah Snr.—mentored him in several aspects of the industry, he often reacted angrily to critics. Sarkodie, however, taught him the importance of self-control in the digital age.

Akwaboah admitted that although he has learned to ignore most of the negativity, some of it still gets to him.

“At the end of the day, I’m human, but I’ve learned to control myself,” he added.