According to multiple online reports, the Film Distributors and Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) will ban the showing of Ghanaian movies in buses from February 1, 2014—and any bus owner or driver who will continue to show these movies will be arrested.

Showing movies in buses, aeroplanes or at several commercial places in itself is not an offense, provided you have the required licence or authority to do so.

Considering the fact that many of these long bus journey passengers derive a little bit of comfort and entertainment from these movies, it would be profitable for both FIPAG and these bus drivers to come to an agreement where FIPAG would issue the latter with licences under a payment scheme.

If not, these drivers will continue showing these movies and employ all tactics to avoid FIPAG from catching up on them.

Despite FIPAG saying producers are losing big sums of money due, in part, to the growing number of long-distance buses that show movies free of charge to passengers. Others including the Road Safety Officer of VIP buses, Asiedu Mensah have argued that, showing movies in buses rather encouraged patronage as passengers who like the movies shown were likely to buy their own copies later.

This sounds like selective justice since several barber shops, hair salons, restaurants and other public places in Ghana also show Ghanaian Movies just like the buses are doing…

To me, a proper way of monetizing these showings for producers must be considered by FIPAG and not a BAN.