By Hafsa Obeng / Jamila Abubakar, GNA
Accra, April 25, GNA - Former Big Brother Africa star, Mimi Abu Andani, has expressed dissatisfaction with the way legal systems in Africa tackled issues of piracy, saying the systems did not pay so much attention to the menace.
Mrs Andani, who is also the Director of the Golden Movie Awards Africa, (GMAA) bemoaned that piracy was affecting the businesses of those involved in the movie and music industry which she called for immediate intervention to curb the practice.
The GMAA Director was speaking to the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of the official media launch of the 2017 GMAA Annual Movie Awards held at Accra on Tuesday.
She explained that the proliferation of modern technology was hampering the efforts of African filmmakers to combat piracy, adding that the problem was a global one.
“Piracy is everywhere, even in advanced countries where security software applications are available to fight. It is something every country is fighting against,” she added.
“Film Associations in Ghana have remained committed to directing efforts to reduce piracy in the country but they need the support from the legal system to propel the move,” Mrs Andani said.
However, she complained about the failure of some filmmakers to report issues of the menace at the law courts saying it threatened the quest to weed out the problem which “is the number one enemy in the movie industry.”
The 2017 GMAA Movie Awards, which also marks the third anniversary of the GMAA being celebrated on the theme " Empowering the African Filmmaker", seeks to motivate African filmmakers to give in their all in the business, to help accelerate the growth of the movie industry.
This would mark the third time the GMAA has put together such an event to cushion filmmakers on the continent since its inception in 2015.
“The event falls in the 60th year of the independence of Ghana, the birthplace of the Awards. We shall therefore make a big deal out of it,” Mrs Andani, the Director of the GMAA, said.
The Awards slated for July 8, would give special recognition to three film industry personalities who have contributed in various ways to the growth of the industry over the years.
“These three people who will be selected by our eminent jury will be recognised and rewarded on the night of the main event,” she announced.
“Three people who have stayed committed to patronising the programmes organised by the GMAA over the past years would also be awarded while three actors and actresses would be introduced as the ambassadors for the 3rd anniversary of the GMAA.”
She said two African movies would be premiered publicly in Accra and Kumasi as a move to interact with African film enthusiasts in the country.
“NMJ are delighted about the fact that we have chalked three years and this year’s event would be used to exploit this milestone to the benefit of the African filmmaker, our partners and the public at large,” Mrs Andani said.
Once entries have been closed all the works submitted would be submitted to a selected committee for review and short-listing after which judgement would be carried out by a Grand Jury for nominations.
The closing date for entry is May 10, 2016
GNA
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