Getting it wrong: the case of the Ghana Movie Awards (GMA) 2012

On the night of 25 December, 2012 the international community saw different sides of the stuffs Ghanaians are made of. The songs by Ghanaian music ambassadors like R2bees and Kobby Rana as well as the hospitality side of our people among others truly lifted our movie industry to another chapter come 2013.

Being the 3^rd in its kind to be held in the country, the Ghana Movie Awards 2012 epitomizes the unity that we as a people have enjoyed overtime and as to why we must not allow petty squabbles emanating from the recent polls to dislocate the unity that we so much need for our development. 

 

The fusion of the local Twi movies together with the local English movies in the movie awards was spectacular. Even the presence of actors and actresses from both sides bode well and must tell those who think the movie industry is being destroyed by the men and women from the Twi side to desist from this “never-going-anywhere” propaganda. The fact is that, they have contributed to adding another spice to the movie dishes of Ghanaians and it is for the better. The likes of Agya Koo, DJ Louis, Kyeiwaa, Nana Ama MCcbrown and Kwadwo Manu have become the toast of town since they communicate to the “real (Twi speaking)” Ghanaian out there.

The 2012 GMA had good presenters like Nana Anamaoh (TV3) and Clintz de drunk (Nigeria) and a very well decorated stage. The musicians too were well chosen for satisfaction of audience and I think that effect was achieved. That notwithstanding, the anticipation of fans of our men and women on our Television screens at the 2012 GMA awards was not met, since the whole nation was disgraced in front of invited guests and the international community by the organizers of the event on several counts. 

The infractions witnessed at this year’s GMA were hugely unpardonable. The technical team had a lot of things wrong which is disappointing after a lot of rehearsals for this all important program. The team got some of the presenters of the award looking very “stupid” in front of the audience. Nana Anamaoh (the presenter) for instance had to motion the technical team to project the list of nominees on the screen severally but the technical hitches were supra-normal. 

Another thing that marred the 2012 GMA was the absence of most of the award winners. Again, this punches hole in the whole preparation exercise that went into the planning of the program. The President of the Ghana Movie Awards, Mr. David Dontoh must show Ghanaians the good we have and he must do some answering. I have a lot of respect for David Dontoh because he has served Ghanaians for so many years through his talents however; he’s to show some leadership in this industry. Nana Ama MCcbrown; Kwadwo Osei (DJ Louis); and Santo (said to be indisposed) among others couldn’t attend the program and their absence too was not explained to the waiting audience. You cannot tell Ghanaians that, the GMA 2012 went well when award winners couldn’t be seen walking to the dais to receive their awards. We are siding with mediocrity too much to the chagrin of the world.

Who is supposed to project the values; culture; and traditions of Ghana to the world, better than the men and women in our showbiz industry? With few exceptions, attendees at the GMA 2012 failed to project our culture to special guests and international community watching the program. Near to everyone of the Ghanaian actors and actresses in attendance was donned in a “coat and tie” with no sense of shame. Where are the Ghanaian wears or the “African wear” as we call it? To occupy space on our television sets everyday without “preaching” to the world the stuffs Ghanaian culture is made up of is very shameful and pitiful exercise.  

We have to do better. 

Another thing worth mentioning was the enthusiasm of the audience especially when they had to clap and cheer performing artists; presenters; and award winners. I don’t know how their “low confidence” could be explained. A program like the 2012 GMA is supposed to entertain (attendees through good music); inform (other actors and actresses those doing well in the industry and why they must step up their game); and Inspire (other actors and actresses to give off their best when the camera is fixed on them). It will be hypocritical of me to say that, the 2012 GMA achieved the above three missions.

We must not compromise on quality and that’s why our actors and actresses ought to give off their best since they get the best from Ghanaians in the form of money for their pockets. You must build the place you make your living and that’s what I want President David Dontoh to tell his men and women. Some of them may naively believe they don’t need the support of Ghanaians for their movies but the people who saw you growing up will still see you go down in life. 

We must treat our audience with enough respect and this must start now.