Socrate Safo
Source: Africa Publicity
Celebrated Ghanaian film producer Socrate Safo has declined a meritorious award from the Ghana Movie Awards, citing a lack of credibility in the scheme. Safo, who has been a stalwart in the Ghanaian film industry since 1988, expressed his disappointment with the awards scheme, stating that it has lost its integrity and relevance.
Safo, who has produced over 100 films, including several award-winning productions, was scheduled to receive the honor at the Ghana Movie Awards ceremony held on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre. However, he did not attend the event and was outraged when he discovered that his name was mentioned as an honoree.
“I didn’t work tirelessly to build my reputation just to have it tainted by an awards scheme that lacks credibility,” Safo said in a statement. “I demand excellence, and I expect any recognition of my work to come from a credible and trustworthy organisation.”
Safo’s decision to reject the award has sent shockwaves through the Ghanaian film industry, with many of his peers praising his stance. As a prominent figure in the industry, Safo has held various positions, including Director for Creative Arts at the National Commission on Culture and Chairman of the Film Classification Committee. He is also a founding member of the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) and the Audio Visual Rights Society of Ghana (ARSOG).
The Ghana Movie Awards has yet to respond to Safo’s rejection of the award. However, the incident has raised questions about the credibility and relevance of the awards scheme in the Ghanaian film industry.
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