Movies produced in Kumasi are mostly done in Twi, a local language in Ghana. ‘Wood’ has become a generic name for movies. The industry in that part of Ghana now is termed as ‘Kumawood’.
Kumawood has nurtured lots of movie personalities who are doing marvellous in the make-believe fraternity. It has also brought to the limelight lots of budding talents both in the acting and directing field.
Yesterday in Kumasi, the organisers of the ‘Kumawood Film Festival & Akoben Movie Awards’ encountered their first major setback as top actors and actresses dominating the screens when it comes to movies produced in Kumasi boycotted the launch of the awards meant to honour them.
The idea behind the ‘Kumawood Film Festival & Akoben Movie Awards’ is to award Actors, Actresses, Writers, Directors, Producers, Technician and other personalities in the local film making industry in Ghana.
One would have thought that, the awards instituted to acknowledge their exploits and honour them will be viewed as a step in the right direction, especially when they complain of not being given the needed attention and their movies subjected to mockery.
The ceremony started without any of the top actors/actresses being present. Their where about was not readily known as no explanation at all was given. Only few of not so well known faces graced the occasion.
Later after the launch, GhanaCelebrities.Com eavesdropped on conversation between some movie enthusiasts who had graced the occasion hoping to meet their favourite stars and pose for the camera with them.
Information GhanaCelebrities.Com gathered after the launch indicate that, the unexpected boycott by the top stars was because most of them were on location shooting. Some even wondered why, the organisers didn’t liaise with the production houses to release them to attend the media launch.
Mr. Kwaku Twumasi, an Actor, Director and Producer who also doubles as the head of the awards committee denied the above. He explained to GhanaCelebrities.Com that, indeed they extended invitations to some of them but the attention was centered greatly on the media.