Veteran Ghanaian actor Kofi Adjorlolo has maintained that while the Ghanaian movie industry has its challenges, it was never Nollywood that made Ghanaian actors.

He was on The Real Talk Podcast with Elizabeth Essuman, where he stated that the Ghanaian film industry had carved out its own stars and strong productions long before Nigerian filmmakers reached out.

“Though the Ghana Movie Industry may be having its own problems; it does not mean that Nigerians made us, Ghana Films made Ghanaian actors,” he declared. “Ghana movie industry and the movies produced made us popular before the Nigerian producers noticed, and called us.”

He noted that Ghana’s film industry, popularly called Ghallywood, had established itself strongly on the continent, forming the basis for much of the present cross-border narrative.

“Ghana movie is not down, actors are acting daily, producers are producing daily, work is ongoing daily; rather, it is the promotion and marketing that is lacking – and we’ve got to fix that area,” he stressed.

Mr Adjorlolo added that many well-known actors, Majid Michel, Van Vicker, Jackie Appiah, John Dumelo, Juliet Ibrahim, Nadia Buari, Yvonne Nelson and others, earned domestic acclaim before their Nollywood breakthroughs.

“Ghanaian actors gained their breakthroughs in their home country before being introduced to Nollywood,”

Renowned Ghanaian filmmaker and comedian, Kwaku Simtim-Misa, widely known as KSM, has offered a candid assessment of Ghana's movie industry, stressing that it cannot yet be compared to the Nigerian film industry in terms of growth, structure, and contribution.

Speaking on The Career Trail program on Joy Learning TV and Joy News, KSM said that while Ghana is blessed with talented filmmakers and promising content, the absence of a sustainable and efficient system continues to hinder the industry's growth.

“Unfortunately, it is still a growing industry. We can’t compare the film industry in Ghana to that of Nigeria. The Nigerians have had a longer time of being exposed to making films. And the more they make them, the better they get. The more they produce, the more they devise ways of distributing them. Eventually, you realize you’ve developed a system that works for you,” KSM stated.

On the other hand, he said Ghana's film industry is still trying to find its feet.

Most filmmakers struggle to raise money at every stage, from writing the story, shooting the film, paying actors, to finally getting the movie out there for people to watch. “Somebody will hustle to make money, then hustle to pay for the film. And after paying for the film, the actors, and everyone else involved, they now have to hustle again just to distribute the film. There are no proper distribution outlets,” he lamented.

Ghana's film industry, once vibrant in the CD/DVD era, now struggles with structure, funding, and proper distribution.

Unlike Nigeria's Nollywood, which has grown into a globally recognized industry through consistent production, strong distribution networks, and digital platforms, Ghana's sector remains largely informal.

Filmmakers often self-fund and face hurdles getting their movies widely seen.

While a few initiatives and talented individuals are pushing forward, veteran filmmaker KSM says the lack of a solid system continues to limit growth and makes it difficult to compare Ghana's industry with Nigeria.

In contrast, Ghanaian musician Ben Brainy has raised concerns about the state of Ghana’s music industry during an interview on Bryt TV.

He expressed disappointment that Ghanaians have not properly preserved their cultural and musical heritage, which has allowed Nigerians to take the lead in Highlife music.

Highlife, a key part of Ghana’s musical history, has influenced African music for years. Legends like E.T. Mensah, Nana Ampadu, and Agya Koo Nimo helped shape the genre. However, Ben Brainy feels Ghana has not done enough to protect and promote it.

He explained that many Ghanaian artists abandon traditional sounds in favor of modern trends, creating an opportunity for Nigerian musicians to step in. By blending Highlife with Afrobeat, Nigerians have made the genre more appealing worldwide, while Ghana struggles to maintain its impact.

"We don’t hold onto our own for long. We started highlife, but now it’s the Nigerians who are making it big with it. We leave what we have and chase other things," Ben Brainy lamented during the interview with El Baby.

Ben Brainy encouraged Ghanaian musicians and industry leaders to focus on preserving and promoting Ghana’s unique musical style. He stressed that to keep Highlife music alive, Ghanaians must invest in it, share it with the world, and take pride in their cultural roots instead of letting outside influences take over.

Meanwhile, he has released the music video for his song Location. The track, which mixes Afrobeat and Highlife, highlights his signature style and storytelling skills. The video brings the song’s message to life with colorful and engaging visuals.

Through Location, Ben Brainy is not only gaining attention in the music industry but also reminding people of the importance of embracing Ghana’s musical heritage.