Actress Yvonne Nelson has taken swipe at Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko over his comments that he is disappointed with some Ghanaian movies.
The actress noted that if the high ranking member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) says he is disappointed with Ghanaian movies, she is also equally disappointed in him.
Mr Otchere-Darko seems to have ruffled some feathers after he said in a post on Facebook said he felt disheartened after watching 10 random Ghanaian movies.
“I took my time to watch randomly ten Ghanaian movies and never felt so disappointed. It brought home to me one major deficiency in our development. The apparent lack of deliberate consciousness on the part of the creative industry in the development conversation.”Mr Otchere-Darko noted that “The presence of the creative industry appears at best peripheral in Ghana’s development narrative. Our movies, our songs, our arts, by and large, do not impactfully plug into a greater development agenda.”
Using Hollywood as an example, Mr Otchere-Darko noted that, “for the best part of a century, has been deliberately used by America to push successfully American cultural ‘supremacy’ agenda; it has been used as an effective instrument of military or economic indoctrination.” He quizzed “what has been the underlying consciousness behind our creative industry if any? What role, for instance, can actors in the creative industry play to define and realize this whole important concept of moving Ghana Beyond Aid? We must elevate consciousness in Ghana if we are serious about winning.”
Those comments have not gone down well with some industry persons particularly Yvonne Nelson.
The actress, in a post on Twitter, asked, “Hello @GabbyDarko is your [post on Facebook] real?? If it is I’m also disappointed! A few of us are pushing really hard for this industry! Since our leaders have also totally abandoned the industry, we contribute too, just like nurses, doctors..etc”.
She added that “People in high places just don’t know our struggles. It’s unbelievable!”
“How do you even compare Hollywood to our industry! It’s like comparing our economy to theirs!” the award-winning actress quizzed Mr Otchere-Darko.
According to her, “Kumawood has created jobs for so many people! It has put smiles on a lot of faces in our country! Your judgment is just so low! Disappointing!”
A very disappointed Yvonne Nelson told the confidante of President Nana Addo Dankwa-Akufo Addo that, “Leadership!!!!! We need structures in place and some encouragement not this! What do we do when TV networks get cheaper content from India and Latin America?”
Actress Kafui Danku in commenting on the issue said, “Honestly, I wish we can have this conversation openly and I also wish people will forget about their position and age and face bare facts. I wish.... I wish... I wish. @yvonnenelsongh I want to talk, not type ! I can see some "SERIOUS" people blabbing .”