Augustine Abbey (Idikoko) is not our president – Northern sector FIPAG

Augustine Abbey (Idikoko)

Augustine Abbey (Idikoko)






The membership of the Northern Sector of the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) has declared that they no longer recognize veteran actor, Augustine Abbey as their president.

The association, in a letter copied to Myjoyonline.com dated Tuesday, April 2, 2013 said: “we wish to make the public aware that Mr Augustine Abbey is no more the President of FIPAG in accordance with our constitution.”

“He and his executive can no longer represent the association in any capacity. Whoever deals with them with regards to FIPAG does so at his or her own risk,” the letter added.

The film producers association has been bedeviled with internal disputes for some time now causing divisions within its fold.

Mr. Augustine Abbey, according to reports, had alleged that Socrate Sarfo, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the association wanted to “micro-manage” him.

The FIPAG president, popularly known as Idikoko, further alleged that the PRO was defying the laws of the association by going public with internal matters without the consent of the executive.

That has degenerated into a tussle between Socrate Sarfo and Idikoko.

Socrate Sarfo was also reported to have said that he was no longer interested in running for the position when his term expires later this year due to challenges he had with Augustine Abbey.

He told Myjoyonline.com in an interview Wednesday that “When I was making efforts to unite them [factions in the association] they were using it against me.”

He said he stands no chance of retaining his seat if he should contest.

The FIPAG PRO disclosed on Rhythms A-Z some weeks ago that Akwetey Kai, Financial Secretary of FIPAG, with the help of a Nigerian, in the midst of the internal wrangling had hatched and carried out a plan to form another association – Ashanti FIPAG – in the Ashanti region, which will be the the Northern Sector of the association.

Myjoyonline.com has sighted another letter sent from S.K. Boafo & Co., solicitors for the membership of the Northern Sector of FIPAG to Mr. Augustine Abbey dated March 27, 2013 which cautions him not to hold himself as president of the association.

Parts of the letter read: “We are instructed that the three (3) year tenure of the national executive of FIPAG which you headed as the President came to an end on 8th January 2013 or thereabout. We are further instructed that after the end of your term you have continued to exercise executive authority and also represented the Association at various fora and/or organisations to the discomfort of some concerned members of the Association including our clients.”

The solicitors also said: “We are again instructed that the Association’s Constitution does not provide for your continuous stay in office after the expiration of your term of office but you have gleefully ignored the Constitution and you are illegally perpetuating your stay in office.

“We are informed again that it is only members in a general meeting which can authorise you to continue to represent the Association even after the expiration of your term but you have refused to convene a meeting to seek directions from the general membership of the Association. We are further informed that you are seeking to organise elections even in capacity.”

The letter also noted that some stakeholders in the film industry have met and formed an Interim Management Committee (I.M.C) which Augustine Abbey has to hand over the management of the Association to.

The letter revealed the members of the IMC as, Francis Awuah of Baffour Awuah Productions, Thomas Debrah of Pat Thomas Productions, Zakaria Abdulai of Galaxy Films. The rest are Samuel Nketiah of Osofo Rims, Felix Arhin of ‘Above All Fims’, and John Essah Fountain Films.

The solicitors warned that Augustine Abbey has two weeks after the receipt of the letter “to hand over to the IMC which will temporarily manage the affairs of the association and also organise the impending elections until new executives are sworn into office.”

Attempts to reach Augtine Abbey for a reaction have proved futile.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Ernest Dela Aglanu (Twitter: @delaXdela / Instagram: citizendela)