By Nana Ama Gyapong
Ghanaian veteran actor and producer, Kofi Adjorlolo has expressed his disappointment in a statement that was made by Spike Lee a few days ago. According to Kofi, it is disheartening and disappointing to think that a big director would say he never knew Ghana has a film industry. He made this revelation on GTV’s Breakfast show earlier today.
Spike Lee is an Award-winning American director and producer who came to Ghana on Sunday, March 26, the same day as US Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit was part of the Vice President’s creative arts team. According to some movie industry players like Jackie Appiah, Samira Yakubu and Kalsoume Sinare, it is an insult to the Ghanaian film industry because of the statement made by Spike Lee.
Adding to what Kofi explained, Kalsoume Sinare said “we don’t appreciate what we have so if you don’t appreciate what we have, how would somebody respect you?”. “In the first place, whoever brought Spike Lee should know that we have an industry but they don’t appreciate us so I don’t blame him for saying that”, she added.
Kofi Adjorlolo also stated that it looked like he was not briefed and the highlight of the entire visit was on the Vice President of the United States of America. The actor believes that part of the delegation to Ghana wasn’t known until it was whispered to them that Spike Lee was part of the team to Ghana. The National Film and Television Authority was set up by the Government of Ghana under Act 935 to regulate and streamline the ecosystem of film in Ghana and has since been in existence.