WE DID NOT VOTE...SIMPLE (Adanku daadaa Aduwei series)

 The question; "Why Ghana didn't win any award at the just ended AMVCAs" keep bothering and ringing in my mind.

 For a movie like October 1 which is by all standards one of the fine films in Africa to sweep lots of awards and yet a movie like "Love or Something like that" not winning any award still surprises me Adanku.

Now let's getting talking.
So what exactly was the cause of Ghana not winning anything on the night this year?

 Last year, Ghana was highly recognised on the same platform. Winning many awards with Yvonne Okoro's maiden produced movie "Contract" which was directed by Shirley Frimpong Manso,one of Ghana's finest movie producers/directors with Sparrow Productions.

 I have heard many questions asked; as to whether our movie standards are fallen or our Ghanaian movies are simply not "there" yet?

 Adanku, many have criticised but a few have offered solutions.

 I ask, when a movie like "Love or Something Like that" produced by Shirley Frimpong Manso, Joselyn Dumas & Ken Attoh which is the only movie officially approved by the United Nations under a fifteen member Hollywood committee to educate the world on HIV/AIDS and still does not receive an award, then l strongly believe it has nothing to do with quality and standards but simply VOTES as the name of the award scheme sounds (Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards).

 If it is votes Adanku, then my question is, did Ghanaians vote for their own or was the awareness of the event made known to the general public to enable them  vote?

Adanku, I can boldly say that the awareness of the event wasn't on the high side as compared to the attention given other international awards schemes by the media and the producers of the various nominated Ghanaian movies as well as their fellow actors and actresses in the industry. Some of their fellow actors and actresses have never even appreciated any work done by another before and yet they keep smiling and laughing with them. A pure case of "Adanku daadaa Aduwei"

Another angle is, Nigeria's population is about ten times that of Ghana and yet our fellow Nigerian nominees keep creating awareness; same as their media networks and that is one major reason last year, "Contract" produced by a Ghanaian won many awards according to our search.
It was simply a case of high publicity it received especially in Nigeria aside the good production work done.

So when Ghanaian movies like Love or Something like that, A letter to Adam though not big budget movies as compared to Hollywood but the creativity, research work and investment of time and energy that goes into them, needs lots of appreciation from Ghanaians.

Many Hollywood actors who visited Ghana during the 1st edition of the Accra International Film Festival held two years ago spoke well of our movie industry especially the originality in the production.
Somewhere in Australia, theatre has being used to transform the lifestyle and policies of the people.

 German government invest as much as over 300million dollars annually into the acts industry under the Ministry of Development.

 Again, France is generating so much foreign revenues and increase in tourism due to the fact that lots of foreign movies are shot there.

Adanku, I still wonder why we are not whole heartedly supporting the movie industry especially when its a strong area to market the nation in visuals.

Let me enlighten you a bit of what happened in Nigeria recently.

 GIDI UP, a series that is shown on Ndani tv was shot in Lagos,Nigeria  but many foreigners think it was shot somewhere in Europe or America. Despite the beauty shown on locations,it still has the Lagos rhythm in the series.
Today, kindness this series, many foreigners want to visit Lagos despite all the negative things we've all heard about the city. That is the power of movies or theatre.

It is time we start doing constructive criticism and go ahead to support our own. Ghanaian movies are one of the best on planet earth and the better we support, the better, it is for us all as a people.

If we as a people can spend so much on a football team,(Black Stars) to promote the name of Ghana on the sporting world, then we can also invest more in our movie industry to project the image of Ghana visually which stays forever in the minds of viewers.

 Before I ink out Adanku, many Ghanaians have not visited London before, neither have a lot more visited United States of America and yet they can describe the London Bridge and the Statue of Liberty without any mistake and might do it better than someone who leaves a stone thrown to these tourist places.

 Most of these people saw these in various American movies so why can't we also invest into the Ghanaian movie industry as a people and start showing the world, Kilimanjaro, Wili Falls, Achimota Forest, Christianborg Castle, Nzulenzu, West Gonja and many other tourist areas in Ghana.

Our movie industry can get better but not just with criticisms but with massive support from government, individuals and corporate Ghana. Interestingly these bodies l mentioned will follow these actors and actresses on various social media networks and again use them for their advertising purposes. Adanku one will say they also pay them and give them their time and attention but the question is, "is that what the industry really need?"...hmmmmm!!!! another case of "Adanku daadaa Aduwei"

If you love a movie and you need to vote please do vote because when the production team wins, it is Ghana who have won.
When Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah said, "Ghana, your beloved country is free forever", am not sure he was only referring to the situation at that moment  but rather telling us, "we are free to build or destroy our country, our works, our lives as a people without anyone's permission".

 It is time we support our own.

To all the Ghanaian nominees on the AMVCAs night, we are proud of you and your movies are still the best.
Big Ups to Shirley Frimpong Manso, Ken Attoh, Lydia Forson,Joselyn Dumas,Zynell Zuh, Adjetey Anang and everyone nominated on the night.
You made us proud but we as a media, people and Ghanaians failed you; from government to individuals to your colleagues and your fans.

We simply DID NOT VOTE.

This is a case of "Adanku daadaa Aduwei"...Let stop deceiving ourselves and support wealthy Ghanaian creations.