Movie Leaks – Minister Denies Involvement

Minister of Information John Akologo Tia, has denied that the Cinematograph Exhibition Board of Control has anything to do with an alleged leakage of movies sent to it for preview and classification.

In a terse response statement signed on his behalf as president of the Cinematograph Board, the minister made reference to an article posted on the internet at ghanacelebrities.com which claimed that “someone from the Censorship Board has been leaking Shirley Frimpong Manso’s movies before they come out”.

Prior to the minister’s statement, the news about the supposed leakage had been making the rounds in local showbiz circles. Indeed movie director Shirley Frimpong Manso herself had been on radio to talk about it.

She told Kwasi Aboagye on Peace Fm’s Entertainment Review programme that she was very upset when her office had information that some people had obtained copies of her Adams Apples Chapter 3 before it was released on the market.

Shirley said that she was unable to tell exactly how the leak occurred so when Chapter 4 was completed, she issued a single copy of the movie for preview and classification to the Cinematography Board.

She said that to her utter surprise and disbelief, she received information that some film enthusiasts were once again watching the movie in their homes before it was premiered.

Shirley said she made a formal complaint to the Cinematograph Board and the police following the disclosure and said she was expecting that the police would investigate and prosecute the offenders.

The minister has also indicated in his statement that the Cinematograph Board has petitioned the police to investigate the matter thoroughly for the truth to be known.

According to the minister, the accusation (against the Board) is wholly false and very unfortunate, designed to tarnish the well-earned reputation of the Board.

“We would like to state that never in the history of the Board has any producer had cause to complain of a film submitted for preview and classification being leaked before they come out,” the statement said.

Kow Ahenakwa – Daily Graphic