Accra, February 26, 2025 – The Film Directors Guild of Ghana (FDGG) has strongly criticized the First Deputy Minority Whip of Ghana’s Parliament, Hon. Habib Iddrisu, over comments he made during the vetting of Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture designate, Hon. John Dumelo, on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

In a press release issued today, the FDGG expressed disappointment in Hon. Iddrisu’s statement, in which he advised Dumelo to “be serious” in his new political role, implying that the movie industry is not a serious profession.

The Guild described the remarks as “reckless” and indicative of a lack of understanding of the film industry’s economic and cultural significance.

The FDGG emphasized that the global culture and creative industry generates $2.25 trillion annually, contributing 3% to the global GDP and employing 30 million people, according to a 2021 UNESCO report.

It further highlighted the critical role of film in job creation, tourism, and foreign exchange earnings, particularly in Ghana and Africa at large.

We hereby advise the Honourable First Deputy Minority Whip to google and read more about the contribution of the film industry to the global economy, the statement read.

Then he can tell us if the movie industry is not a serious profession—perhaps as serious as his political career.

The Guild further lamented the lack of government investment in Ghana’s film industry, blaming the neglect on uninformed politicians who fail to recognize its potential.

As a result, the FDGG is demanding an immediate retraction and an unqualified apology from Hon. Habib Iddrisu for what it termed a disrespectful and reckless statement against Hon. Dumelo and the entire Ghanaian film industry.

The statement was signed by Richard Yaw Boateng, National President of FDGG, and Francis Ayaga, Director of Communications.

Story By: Robicon Mornahson