Ghanaian actors were famous long before Nollywood producers noticed and called us-Kofi Adjorlolo states

Veteran Ghanaian actor Kofi Adjorlolo has stressed that Ghana’s film industry was already thriving long before collaborations with Nigerian filmmakers, rejecting the narrative that Nollywood gave Ghanaian actors their breakthrough.

Speaking on The Real Talk Podcast, Adjorlolo argued that Ghanaian actors gained recognition through local productions that were already successful before Nigerian producers began reaching 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. Ghana movie industry and the movies produced made us popular before the Nigerian producers noticed, and called us,” he stated.

The celebrated actor highlighted the rise of household names such as Majid Michel, Van Vicker, Jackie Appiah, John Dumelo, Juliet Ibrahim, Nadia Buari, and Yvonne Nelson, who became icons through Ghana’s movie scene before crossing into Nollywood.

While acknowledging Nollywood’s business drive and global visibility, Adjorlolo cautioned against underplaying Ghana’s contribution to African cinema.

“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 added.