The issue of film piracy appears to be reaching a boiling point, as popular Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson has expressed outrage after discovering that her latest movie, The Firstborn, was aired without her consent on Ghanaian television channel, Blazing TV.
The celebrated actress, clearly shocked by the unauthorized broadcast, took to her social media on Saturday, July 19, to share her frustration. Posting a screenshot of the conversation revealing the infringement, she wrote, “I am speechless at the audacity of it all.”
“Ghana, Blazing TV. How is this even ok? Blazing TV in Ghana is showing my movie The Firstborn on their TV without my consent. How does this even make sense? How?” she further lamented.
The film was only officially released on Thursday, July 17, making the unauthorized airing even more upsetting for the actress, who, like many others in the industry, has invested heavily in production and distribution.
Mercy Johnson now joins a growing list of filmmakers and actors, including Ruth Kadiri, Bimbo Ademoye, and Omoni Oboli, who have publicly called out illegal streaming and airing of their works. Ghanaian actress Juliet Ibrahim has also previously spoken out about the economic and emotional toll piracy takes on creatives.
The incident has reignited conversations around cross-border intellectual property violations and the urgent need for tighter regulations and enforcement in the West African entertainment industry.As stakeholders continue to raise red flags over the rampant issue, many are calling on both Nigerian and Ghanaian authorities to step in with more stringent measures to protect the rights and works of content creators.