- Nigerian actress and filmmaker Omoni Oboli called out Ghanaian TV stations for showing her movie without licensing
- She tagged the Ghanaian president in her post, which led to mixed reactions
- Facing backlash, Oboli addressed the issue, apologised for the tagging, stating it’s common in Nigeria
Nollywood actress and movie producer Omoni Oboli has sparked controversy with a social media post addressing a copyright infringement issue with a Ghanaian TV station.
As vital as her information was, she tagging the Ghanaian president, John Mahama in her post has ignited a widespread backlash from netizens who found it appalling.
On Wednesday, April 23, Oboli expressed her frustration, calling the issue of piracy from Ghanaian TV channels "disrespecting" and a "national embarrassment." She urged the president to intervene, leading to backlash from some users who felt the president's tag was unnecessary.
She wrote in a photo story,
"I love my Ghanaian besties. I really do. Ghanaians are our cousins and cousins don't fight. We banter but at the end of the day, it's all love. You see this issue of Terrestrial Ghanaian TV stations showing our movies, it's utterly shameful. My movie TWIN DECEPTION released on my YouTube channel on Friday was shown by TV stations same Friday! I'm going straight to the Ghanaian President this time. Cos this is now a disgrace!"
She added,
"It was my birthday yesterday and I was having a chilled day at home so I didn't want to address this. The truth is, I have been working behind the scenes with some Ghanaian agencies to end this menace once and for all but now it's quite obvious that some people don't even understand that it's actual theft.”
She explained the havoc the issue would cost her if being persistent, stating,
“You are not promoting my film if you rip it off my YouTube channel (without licensing and permission) and show it on your TV station. You are stealing from me for your own personal gain. Do you get it now? There's no world in which that is a good thing. It's actually punishable by law.”
Taking prompt in involving the presidential authority, she added,
“So since it's gotten to this stage, I believe Mr President @officialjdmahama sir, with all due respect sir, it's time to weigh in. This has become an international embarrassment. PS: I love my Ghanaian family and I know you love me too. Let's keep the love flowing."
However, some social media users called her out, with @dave.gb commenting,
“You are right but my frnd you can't just get up and move to the president..there are ways to go about it..the ministries are there.”
In response to the criticism, Oboli acknowledged that tagging the president might not have been the best approach.
She apologised if her actions were seen as disrespectful and removed the tag from her post. She stated it was common practice in Nigeria to tag high-profile individuals in social media posts.
"Just getting around to reading comments and I see some of my Ghanaian besties are unhappy I tagged the President even though it was done respectfully. To us here, we tag our president and leaders to issues and it's not considered out of place. Been working with some of the agencies in Ghana for over a month now and nothing tangible has happened. I'm removing the tag. One love."
However, the reactions were not bias, as other netizens commended the actress for speaking out and called out the administration to see to the issue.
Reactions as Omoni Oboli calls out Ghanaian president
@symplysina wrote:” Going to the president because of what? Go to the minister and the appropriate authorities in charge of that sector because yeah it's wrong for some private tv stations to do what they're doing. It's not the country's own tv stations that are doing this stuff, leave our president to concentrate on us. Respect our presidency it's not every issue you will have to drag our president into, Ghana television (GTV) don't do that so madam Respect yourself and not drag our president into this.”
@movashtan wrote: “Why not sue the TV station in court instead of involving Ghana's president?”
@notatum wrote: “The fact that they are still doing it after being called out.”
@awurabena_nina wrote: “@marthaankomah @salmamumin..Sis we love u yes but u see de caption u guys read n still commented without seeing anything wrong in it is soo funny. Don't we hu ministers n other pple she can clearly tagg dan de whole president of Ghana all in de name of a YouTube movies violation? Is de president her mates?how many channels or roots has she taken to help solve dis?I guess she has colleagues whor actors in Ghana n can help solve it if Dey were even confronted. Don't drag de president to ur whatever cus he isn't ur mates. Respect him Ma.”
@dexterboniface wrote: “Daily TV sitting comfortably on this table...they don't even let a day pass.”
@emmhanapparel wrote: “And the lady was boldly saying rubbish.”
@sazaberg wrote: “Don't they have a broadcasting commission like the NBC you can liase with?”
@gracefields.foods wrote: “Oh my people stop this. It's unfair and really shameful.
@omonioboli link up with Kafui Danku, she is the newly appointedExecutive Secretary of National Film Authority under President Mahama.”
@caramel_la wrote: “@omonioboli I think you should address it to the minister of information @samgeorgegh...it will be more relatable.”
Ghanaian government officials respond to Bimbo Ademoye's piracy claims
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Bimbo Ademoye raised concerns over unauthorised airings of her films in Ghana.
In response, Ghanaian officials, including Sam George and Kafui Danku, addressed her piracy concerns, highlighting the actions they'd take.