The much talked about ‘dumsor’ demonstration to be held by Ghana’s film makers in Kumasi this Thursday to protest government’s abysmal handling of the continuous electricity crisis may not come off because some of the organisers do not want to step on the toes of some government officials, News One gathered on Monday.
“Many of our leaders have been called and asked to convince the rest to boycott the demonstration. Personally, Odoi Mensah even called me and said government wants to help our association with some generators and some money and that if we go ahead with the demonstration in Kumasi it would paint government black and the goodies may not come,” the Executive Director of Movie Africa Productions, Socrate Safo, told News One.
Originally, the plan was that on Thursday, May 28, there would be no sale of movies anywhere in Ghana as film makers in the country embark on a nationwide strike and a demonstration to protest the continuous electricity crisis.
The demonstration cum sit down strike is being spearheaded by the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FiPAG) and is expected to be attended by members of the Ghana Actors Guild (GAG), members of the Creative Arts For Change, as well as some of Ghana’s popular actors, movie and stage directors, scriptwriters, editors, producers, makeup artists, soundtrack singers & producers, acting guild members, retailers, marketers, and distributors among others.
Barely 48-hours to the planned demonstration, Michael Kwaku Ola, Public Relations Officer for FiPAG, has come out with a statement confirming the allegation made by Socrate Safo that unseen hands from the corridors of power were working against the demonstration.
Ola’s statement read in part: “…Some people in government have gone the extra mile to push their agenda through some respected leaders and executives of FiPAG and other stakeholder associations of the industry to call members to alienate themselves from the demonstration and discredit it. The question is, till now did these government officials know of the film industry?
“Mr Nii Odoi Mensah and Mr Akwaetey Kanyi, both of ARSOG, have been calling and are calling members not to participate or endorse the demo, giving flimsy, cowardice and zany reasons.
“We want them to know, together with the rest and their pay masters, that those who are still shooting movies, paying crew and actors to also fend for their families and as such feeling the pinch of the conundrums with energy, are not reneging on the demonstration…By this, we are calling on all fronts of the industry to remain resolute and not be swayed by the threats and lies that are being promulgated around.”
Source: Daily Guide
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