[ 2015-06-01 ]

Actors,producers abandoned 'dumsor' demo for travel visa - FIPAG alleges
Film Producers Association of Ghana (FiPAG) is
alleging that some of its members were induced not
to join a protest march against government
handling of the energy crisis held last Thursday.
PRO of FIPAG Ola Michael told Joy FM’s Rythmz
A-Z Saturday that some members after the protest
revealed that they were promised visas, monies and
some perks.
“We had calls from some of these same known
faces telling us what really went down, that some
of them had been threatened not to be there, some
of them were promised visas to travel with some
entourages to foreign countries”, Ola Michael
alleged.
The demonstration in Kumasi for all players in the
movie industry was expected to attract members of
the Ghana Actors Guild (GAG), members of the
Creative Arts For Change and some popular actors,
movie and stage directors, scriptwriters, editors,
producers, makeup artists, soundtrack singers &
producers, retailers, marketers, and distributors
among others.
A heavy downpour almost destroyed the
demonstration which ended at the Jubilee Park in
Kumasi.
But the organizers were displeased that some
“known faces” and big names in the Kumasi
movie industry “refused to show up” although
they had been invited for the demonstration.
Ola Michael is at a loss as to “who has so much
money to buy off people not to demonstrate when it
is their civic rights”.
He alleged that two of their members, he would not
name, who abstained from the demonstration got
paid by some unknown forces after the Thursday
event.
They believe government had worked to undermine
the demonstration. Ola Michael would not mention
names. He said he received two calls from some
persons claiming to be in government who tried to
discourage him from organizing the march.
FiPAG had warned Mr Nii Odoi Mensah and Mr
Akwaetey Kanyi, both of Audio-Visual Rights Owners
Association of Ghana (ARSOG) to desist from
calling members not to participate or endorse the
demo.
Executives of FiPAG says they will be meeting to
look into punitive measure to take against
'greedy' members. Ola Michael says some producers
could blacklist them and ensure they do not
feature in their movies.
"They have decided to dissociate themselves from
these actors because they don't see the need to
work with them", Ola Michael said.

Source - Joy News

... go Back