The Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) has condemned an individual’s decision to rename the Ghana Film Industry as Gollywood.

In a press statement signed on behalf of executive members and the general members of FIPAG, the Association stated they were not party to final deliberations that led to the change in name and that they were left in the dark.

Again, FIPAG condemns the move and describes Richard Boateng also known as Mr. India as a selfish individual who does not have the industry at heart.

Read full statement from below.

“FIPAG DISSOCIATES FROM MR. RICHARD BOATENG AS WELL AS HIS FDGG, GOLLYWOOD, M.O.U. WITH INDIANS AND HIS CLAIM AS A LEADER OF AN APEX BODY IN THE FILM INDUSTRY.

The FILM PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (FIPAG) has decided to withdraw its support for activities undertaken by Richard Boateng of the Film Directors Guild of Ghana (FDGG). It is for that reason that FIPAG boycotted the recent Film Summit he organised.

This decision is based on a number of reasons that have come to light following initial discussions between the FIPAG executive members on the summit and related matters.

Before Richard Boateng and a few FDGG members traveled to lndia, we (the executive members of FIPAG) realized that Mr. Richard Boateng had failed to reveal a lot of crucial information to us with regards to the trip and the summit. He does otherwise when advised and it was clear that he was NOT thinking of a collaboration at all. It was realized that Mr. Richard Boateng was staging a one-man show.

This is also evident on the awards presented. He is the only signatory. Even though, he was funded by our sector ministry, he insisted that FIPAG should fund its participation in the trip. He did not disclose the fact that the trip had been prefinanced. In view of his attitude, FIPAG broke away from the trip and stopped attending the pre-summit meetings. It is strange that he went ahead and unveiled the name “Gollywood” without recourse to FIPAG.

This is a name which had been discussed on the FIPAG MEMBERS PLATFORM and it is yet to be endorsed by other industry players. Mr. Richard Boateng, we can all see as someone fighting for attention instead of thinking of the development and the well-being of our industry through effective and efficient collective consultation.

We condemn Mr. Boateng’s announcement of “Gollywood” as the name of the Ghanaian movie industry.

FIPAG has, therefore, stated categorically that we are NOT a party to any of the schemes of Mr. Boateng and his FDGG.

Finally, we would like to sound a word of caution to him to avoid holding himself as a sole representative of the Ghanaian movie industry.”