George Quaye, renowned playwright and media figure, has called on Ghanaians to stop drawing comparisons between Ghana’s film industry and Nollywood.
He made the comments during a panel discussion on United Showbiz over the weekend, where he highlighted the differences between the two industries and urged for greater appreciation of Ghana’s creative potential.
According to Quaye, Nigeria’s dominance in film is supported by its population size and relentless drive, which creates high demand and naturally fuels production. But, he argued, these advantages shouldn’t lead to unfair comparisons.
“We should understand that Nigerians have a certain level of aggressiveness and also in basic economics, demand and supply analysis shows that they have a much larger market, and when they produce little, they will have higher demand than ours so what are we fighting for. I don’t think there’s anything to argue about,” he said.
His remarks followed concerns raised by actress Gloria Sarfo, who expressed frustration over the limited opportunities for Ghanaian actors. In a social media post, Sarfo lamented the sluggish pace of local film production and suggested many talents are going to waste.
“Honestly, if you’re in Nigeria as an actor, you’d realize that you’ve REALLY WASTED YOUR TALENT back in Ghana,” she wrote. “As in, people are shooting on a daily basis, back to back, non stop. Meanwhile, in my country Ghana, producers STRUGGLE to even shoot one film in a year.”
Calling the state of the Ghanaian movie scene “CRAZY” and “totally disheartening,” she questioned what had gone wrong with the industry.
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In response, Quaye acknowledged the slow pace but countered that Ghanaian actors being cast in Nigerian productions proves they bring something distinctive to the table.
“If today, somebody calls you from Ghana to come and act in Nigeria, a population with so much talents then it shows that there’s something we have that they don’t have there,” he said.
He urged creatives to shift the narrative and recognize the value of what they already possess.
“I feel we should rather be proud of what we have…Let’s stop the comparisons with Nigerians… I understand my sister but she should be measured. The Ghana movie industry is never a waste of time.”
Quaye further emphasized that while Ghana may not match Nigeria in terms of volume or scale, success can still be achieved through authenticity, skill, and strategic positioning.
“It is up to you as an actor to look at yourself and the market and what works for you. I started as an actor.
“Some people started as actors but are now show hosts and influencers,” he added, encouraging creatives to adapt to the evolving industry landscape.
Watch his statement below.
