Ghanaian actress, Gloria Sarfo, is once again at the center of controversy after speaking out about what she perceives as the stagnation of Ghana’s movie industry. Sarfo, who has been an influential figure in the entertainment scene, recently faced intense criticism following a bold Instagram post in which she expressed frustration over the lack of progress in the local film sector.
In her post, Sarfo lamented what she described as the industry’s failure to properly utilize the talent of its actors. She expressed deep concern about the “wasting” of creative potential in the Ghanaian movie scene due to what she called inactivity and stagnation. The message quickly sparked a wide-ranging debate, with some industry insiders dismissing her words as attention-seeking and unhelpful, while others saw it as a legitimate criticism.
Sarfo’s post was met with backlash from some quarters, with critics accusing her of minimizing her own contributions to the industry’s growth. Many suggested that her remarks, which were rooted in frustration, lacked constructive solutions and only served to undermine the progress that had been made.
However, Sarfo wasn’t ready to back down. On July 20, she returned to Instagram, defending her position and clarifying her intentions. In a passionate post, Sarfo wrote:
“God knows I didn’t post that for clout chasing!! God knows I didn’t intend to demean anyone or my country!! God knows that I didn’t post that, because I was just excited to be filming in Nigeria (because this is not my first time)!! God knows that I had good intentions with that post!! He knows that I wasn’t trying to be selfish!!”
The actress continued to stress that her criticism had been misunderstood and insisted that she has always been a strong advocate for the growth of Ghana’s movie industry. Sarfo also expressed frustration at the way her comments were twisted, adding that even some of the younger generation of actors, whom she claimed to be fighting for, had shown disrespect towards her.
“Meanwhile, they also know that I am not boastful!! They know, that I have always fought and championed this course, even without them!! Yet, a few of those who are directly affected, came under my post to type HMMMMMMMM. Even the young ones I was intentionally fighting for, also came to express their ignorance and disrespect me!!” she wrote.
Sarfo went on to call out the media personalities who, according to her, had chosen to publicly insult and demean her character rather than address the core issue she raised. She took aim at pundits who, in her view, were more focused on attacking her than acknowledging the deeper issues within the industry.
“And pundits sit on national television/radio to insult and demean my personality and brand!! So, I’ll borrow their word, hmmmmmmmm & let’s all pretend that it is all rosy publicly, and cry privately!! Let’s continue to pretend like we don’t know the truth!! Yes, we have a perfect industry, one that is solid, no talent is being wasted, producers treat actors very well, and pay them good!! Ghanaian actors are the happiest actors in the world!! Ghanaian filmmakers produce 1000 movies every year!!”
In her post, Sarfo declared that, for now, she would focus on her own career rather than continue to fight for the industry. She announced her decision to stop advocating for the sector, stating that she would now prioritize building her own brand.
“Until then, I wish everyone all the best. ‘Momma yEn nk) so aa, nnunu yEn ho, na yEn sere.’ Indeed, an industry not worth fighting for!! I rest my case!! Like my loved ones will say, Gloria focus on your brand. (I guess it’s about time!!) NB: this is not for pity,” she concluded.
While Sarfo’s comments have certainly divided opinion, her passionate defense of her position highlights the frustrations of many actors in Ghana’s film industry. The debate over her remarks has brought to light the challenges and difficulties faced by many in the local film scene, with some calling for more constructive efforts to address the issues of stagnation, while others believe that Sarfo’s words were unnecessarily harsh.
As the conversation continues, it remains to be seen how her words will impact the future of Ghana’s movie industry, and whether more discussions about its development will take place in the wake of Sarfo’s bold stance.
See her post below:
