Ruth Kadiri Blasts Ghanaian TV Channels for Pirating Her Movies - Video

Nigerian actress, screenwriter and film producer Ruth Kadiri has issued a stern warning to Ghanaian TV channels that are airing her movies without her permission. She said she will not hesitate to sue any channel that violates her intellectual property rights.

Ruth Kadiri, who is one of the most popular and prolific Nollywood stars, took to her Instagram page on Monday to express her displeasure over the unauthorized broadcast of her movies by some Ghanaian TV stations. She shared a video clip of one of her movies, titled "Love Me", being shown on a Ghanaian channel called EGM TV GH.

She captioned the video:

"I am sick and tired of Ghanaian TV stations showing my movies without my consent. This is theft and piracy. I have not sold the rights of any of my movies to any Ghanaian TV station. Stop stealing my hard work. Stop robbing me of my sweat. I will sue anyone who does this again. You have been warned."

Ruth Kadiri is not the first Nigerian filmmaker to complain about the illegal distribution of her movies in Ghana. In 2019, actress and producer Omoni Oboli also called out some Ghanaian TV stations for showing her movies without paying for them. She said she had evidence of the infringement and threatened to take legal action as well.

According to the List of TV stations in Ghana, there are over 40 TV stations operating in the country, some of which are satellite, digital and analog. However, it is not clear how many of them have obtained the necessary licenses and permissions to air foreign movies, especially from Nigeria.

Nigeria and Ghana have a long history of cultural exchange and collaboration in the entertainment industry, especially in the film sector. Many Nigerian actors and actresses have featured in Ghanaian movies and vice versa. Some of the popular co-productions include "Beyonce: The President's Daughter", "The Perfect Picture", "Single and Married", "Potato Potahto" and "Chief Daddy".

However, the issue of piracy and intellectual property rights has been a major challenge for both countries, as some unscrupulous individuals and organizations exploit the huge demand for movies without respecting the rights of the creators and owners.

Ruth Kadiri is one of the most successful and influential figures in Nollywood. She has starred in over 100 movies, such as "In Your Arms", "Black Bride", "Black Men Rock", "Love is Beautiful" and "Too Old for Love". She has also written and produced several movies, such as "Matters Arising", "Over the Edge", "Somebody Lied" and "Memory Lane". She has won several awards and nominations for her work, such as the Nigeria Entertainment Awards Actress of the Year, the Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards Best Female Viewers Choice and Best On-screen Duo (with Majid Michel), and the City People Movie Award Best Actress of the year.

Ruth Kadiri was born on 24 March 1988 in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. She studied Mass Communication at the University of Lagos and Business Administration at Yaba College of Technology¹. She is married to Mr Ezerika and has two children.