Iyabo Ojo Demands Action After Ghana TV Station Airs Her Movie Without Permission
Nigerian actress and filmmaker Iyabo Ojo has publicly accused a Ghanaian television station of broadcasting her newly released movie without authorization, less than 24 hours after its official premiere.
The actress raised the alarm on Saturday, claiming that her latest film, The Memory of You, was aired by NETV without obtaining a license, seeking permission, or making any payment.
The incident comes just 21 hours after the final episode of the movie premiered on Friday at 5:00 p.m., sparking renewed concerns about film piracy across Africa’s entertainment industry.
Iyabo Ojo Accuses NETV of Copyright Infringement
Taking to Instagram, the actress condemned the alleged unauthorized broadcast and described the act as outright theft of intellectual property.
According to Iyabo Ojo, filmmakers invest years of hard work, creativity, and financial resources into producing movies, making piracy a serious threat to the industry.
She wrote:
“My movie THE MEMORY OF YOU 1 & 2 is being aired on TV channels in Ghana without my permission. No call. No license. No payment. Just pure theft.
“To NETV and every other station doing this: You cannot build your channel on the backs of filmmakers and expect us to keep quiet.”
Actress Calls on Ghanaian Authorities to Enforce Copyright Laws
Iyabo Ojo also appealed directly to Ghanaian authorities, urging them to take decisive action against television stations broadcasting copyrighted content without authorization.
She specifically called on Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, alongside the National Film Authority (NFA) and the country’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, to enforce existing copyright laws.
In her statement, she said:
“We are begging you to act. There are laws in place—the Copyright Act, 2005 (Act 690). Enforce them.
“The National Film Authority has already warned that stations airing unauthorized content risk license suspension or revocation. Now is the time to act on that warning.”
‘Piracy Is Killing Creativity’ – Iyabo Ojo
The actress stressed that piracy continues to damage Africa’s film industry by discouraging investment and reducing opportunities for filmmakers and other professionals in the creative sector.
She added:
“We filmmakers pour our lives, money, and years into this craft. Piracy kills creativity, kills jobs, and kills investment.
“We are not asking for favors. We are demanding what is rightfully ours—respect and protection for our intellectual property. Enough is enough.”
Ghana Tightens Enforcement Against Unauthorized Film Broadcasts
Iyabo Ojo’s complaint comes shortly after the Ghana National Film Authority (NFA) announced plans to intensify its crackdown on television stations airing Nigerian movies without proper authorization.
The move was introduced as part of efforts to strengthen copyright enforcement and protect filmmakers from piracy, a challenge that continues to affect the African movie industry.
The latest incident is expected to add further pressure on regulators to take action against broadcasters found violating copyright laws.
