Internal Power Struggles in Actors Guild Hindering Progress – Fred Amugi

Legendary Ghanaian actor, Fred Amugi has expressed his frustrations over the ongoing leadership disputes within the Actors Guild of Ghana, which he believes are detrimental to the growth of the movie industry.

In a recent interview with Graphic Showbiz, Mr. Amugi highlighted that the absence of effective leadership has significantly slowed down progress in the sector.

Since the passing of Reverend Eddie Coffie, the Guild’s president, in 2016, elections for new executives have been stalled. This has left the Guild without the necessary leadership to manage industry affairs and advocate for the welfare of actors.

The thespian voiced his hopes for a resolution, saying, “The film industry is like any other business. It has its ups and downs. However, for the past few years, it’s been having issues of power struggles and conflicts, especially within the Ghana Actors Guild.”

The veteran actor who has starred in several movies such as ‘The Cursed Ones’, ‘Shoe Shine Boy’, ‘Nyame Bekyere’ etc  pointed out that the internal conflicts have led to a decline in productivity and quality control, stating, “This has led to a decline in productivity and quality because what’s being produced is not checked.” He praised platforms like Akwaaba Magic on DStv for their support, noting, “We’re lucky to have Akwaaba Magic on DStv, which has provided a platform for our films. They’ve been supportive and willing to work with us, and the films they show are good. If we keep making good films, we’ll benefit from their support.”

However, he expressed concern about Ghana lagging behind Nigeria’s film industry, which benefits from subscription-based streaming services such as Netflix. “Unfortunately, Nigeria’s film industry is ahead of ours. They have more opportunities with subscription-based streaming services such as Netflix, and we need to work together to catch up,” he stated.

Fred Amugi also emphasized the importance of collaboration and cooperation within the industry, believing that unity is crucial for producing high-quality films that can compete globally.