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The National Film Authority (NFA) has issued a directive to all television channels in Ghana, requiring them to seek permission from copyright owners before broadcasting any films on their platforms.

This move comes after the NFA received numerous complaints from global film distributors about unauthorised broadcasting of movies by some terrestrial channels and media houses in Ghana.

According to the NFA, broadcasting movies without authorisation violates their exclusive rights and constitutes copyright infringement, which attracts both civil and criminal liabilities. (Read Nigeria's Ruth Kadiri threatens legal action against Ghanaian TV stations airing her content without authorisation)

The list of complaints includes:

(1) A number of terrestrial channel owners and media houses in Ghana broadcast/air movies or films on their channels.

(2) The broadcasting/airing of these movies or films are being done without the authorisation from the movie creators/copyright owners.

(3) The unauthorised broadcasting/airing of the said movies or films is in violation of exclusive rights of the copyright owners.

The directive is in accordance with the authority's statutory function of ensuring compliance with laws regulating copyright within the Ghanaian film industry as set out in section 3(e)(iv) of the Development and Classification of Film Act 2016 (Act 935).

In a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of National Film Authority (NFA), Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, she advised all terrestrial channel owners and media houses to conduct an assessment of the movies and films currently being broadcast on their channels, to ensure that the necessary authorizations have been obtained from the copyright owners.

“If any channel or media house is found to be broadcasting a movie or film without the requisite authorisation, they must immediately cease and desist from broadcasting until the necessary authorization is obtained,” part of the statement reads.

The NFA's directive aims to protect the intellectual property rights of copyright owners and ensure that the Ghanaian film industry operates within a legal and regulated framework.

The authority is committed to enforcing the legal framework for the production, regulation, and development of the Ghanaian film industry, and to promoting a sustainable and vibrant film ecosystem in Ghana.