Renowned Ghanaian filmmaker Leila Djansi has sparked a debate among industry players, questioning whether they will continue making excuses for the state of Ghana’s film industry or take action to improve it.

“Good and bad can coexist in anything. But at what point do we stop excusing the bad and start fixing it?” she asked in a Facebook post, calling for a shift from complacency to progress.

Djansi criticized the industry's reluctance to embrace constructive criticism, urging filmmakers to compare their work with productions from other African countries such as Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya, and South Africa.

“Take two of your most recent critically acclaimed films from the previous three years and compare them to two from Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya, and South Africa. Look at them side by side and ask yourself if we are actually gaining any momentum,” she challenged.

She lamented that since Azali’s Oscar submission in 2018, Ghana’s subsequent entries have not been up to standard.

“In 2018, we got Azali for the Oscars, and since then, every single submission has been a joke. A literal joke. Some of the films would convince you to burn your Ghana card,” she stated.

Djansi stressed that the problem is not a lack of talent but an unwillingness to elevate the industry through hard work and innovation.

Sharing a personal experience, she recalled how a Creative Artists Agency (CAA) agent once critiqued her storytelling approach. Instead of dismissing the feedback, she took it as an opportunity to grow.

“What he actually said to me was, ‘Go take risks with your storytelling.’ I grew up,” she revealed.

She urged filmmakers to stop dismissing criticism as hate or jealousy and instead use it as a tool for improvement.

“Stop enduring mediocrity, please. Instead of these knee-jerk reactions, instead of acting like people just want to hate, forget the who and the how and actually listen. Sit with the criticism. Use it to rise,” Djansi advised.

With her bold remarks, Djansi hopes to ignite a mindset shift in the Ghanaian film industry, pushing creatives to move beyond excuses and take the necessary steps to compete on the global stage.