KSM – Renaming Ghana Movie Gollywood “Ridiculous”

• Posted on July 18, 2018
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

Veteran stand-up comedy actor Kwaku Sintim Misa (KSM) has lashed out at stakeholders in Ghana’s creative arts sector for settling on Gollywood to rebrand the movie industry.

Stakeholders, comprising the leadership of the various groups of the movie sector launched the name Gollywood at the Ghana 60 Years on Film Summit which was held on July 12, 2018, at the Accra International Conference Centre.

Present at the programme were the President of Ghana Actors Guild, Samuel Fiscian, and the South African High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E Lulu Xingwana, among others.

According to KSM, the name Gollywood is “ridiculous” and lacks “originality”.

“GHOLLYWOOD? This name should be considered a CRIME. How can you be in the CREATIVE arts industry and come up with a name that lucks ORIGINALITY. Creative people ORIGINATE they don’t IMITATE,” the TV host tweeted.

GHOLLYWOOD?????
This name should be considered a CRIME. How can you be in the CREATIVE arts industry and come up with a name that lucks ORIGINALITY. Creative people ORIGINATE they don’t IMITATE.

— Kwaku Sintim-Misa (@KSM_Kwaku_Misa) July 17, 2018

Speaking later in an interview with Andy Dosty, Mr. Misa said he would have preferred “Gh Cinema” to “Gollywood” which is simply an imitation.

“How can a bunch of creative people sit down and come up with the name Gollywood, should there be a “wood”, or is it because others are adding “wood”?” he asked.

According to him, “the movie industry is basically crippled and if you’re a talented screenwriter in Ghana, where do you send your script? Are there avenues to market your script? You come up with a great film, are there chances that they can be distributed technically?”

“The name is a ridiculous name that’s why I call it a crime,” KSM stated.

Meanwhile, award-winning Director and Film Producer, Leila Djansi has criticised the decision to rename Ghana’s movie industry, Gollywood.

The director of ‘I sing of a Well’ who resides in the United States of America in a write up said there is no creativity in the name, adding that she does not want her movies to be tagged with Gollywood.