When Film Producers Association of Ghana(FIPAG) last Thursday asked Kumawood actors to leave their various locations, drop their cameras, costumes, scripts, lightening systems and enter the streets of Kumasi to demonstrate against the energy crisis the nation is currently facing, little did they know that most of them will ‘swerve’ them.
As the particpants of the demonstration dubbed ‘Esum Aduru Yen’ defied a heavy downpour and walked through some of the principal streets of Kumasi, conspiciously missing were most of the popular faces of Kumawood.
The likes of Agya Koo, Kwaku Manu, Vivian Jill, Mercy Asiedu, Akrobeto, Nana Ama MacBrown, Lil Win, Bill Asamoah, Matilda Asare, Kyeiwaa, Christaina Awuni, Apostle John Prah were missing in action.
Their absence has infuriated FIPAG as well as its stakeholders and they have vowed to deal with actors who did not show up.
In an interview with Showbiz, yesterday, the Public Relation Officer of FIPAG, Michael Kwaku Ola saidhe believes the absence of the actors was a sabotage since every movie producer and director was asked not to shoot on that day to enable them(actors) attend the match.
He revealed that his outfit is yet to come out with a punitive action against the actors who did not turn up. “We have to consult our stakeholders such as Directors Guild, Actors Guild, Ghana Film Crew Association, marketers, Distributors Association, retailers and sellers. We are meeting to come out with a decision.
“Members of FIPAG are very disappointed at the actors because they promised us they would show up but failed to do so,” he said.
Meanwhile, when Showbiz spoke with Kwaku Manu, one of the actors accused of not turning up, he said, “I would have gladly attended the march if I had the time and energy. In fact, I was so tired on the day because I had worked the previous night” he said.
According to Kwaku Manu, he never took money from anyone not to attend the vigil as it is being speculated. “ I am also affected by the energy crisis.
Also, actress, Vivian Jill told Showbiz she was very busy that day and could not turn up. She was also quick to add that she was not paid by anyone not to show up.
Meanwhile, speaking at the demonstartion, Mr James Aboagye, General Secretary of FIPAG, said the objective of the march was to let the government know about the effect the power crisis was having on the industry.
“Many of our production houses are folding up. Before the power crisis, the industry could release as many as 20 films per month but we are not able to come out with even 10 lately”.
Also, he said, patrons of their product have stopped buying movies because, “they say they do not have power to watch them. Most of them do not have the means to buy generators and even those who have do not have money to buy fuel,” he said.
He, thus, called on the government to find a lasting solution to the crisis and not to allow the industry to collapse as is currently happening.
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Source: Graphic.com.gh