Prominent Nollywood actress and producer Iyabo Ojo woke up to a frustrating surprise on Saturday, July 26, 2026, after discovering that a TV station in Ghana had broadcasted her latest film, The Memory of You Part 2, without her authorization.
Taking to her official Instagram page, the visibly shaken filmmaker called out Northeast TV, a television station operating in northern Ghana. According to Ojo, the station began airing her movie just hours after she uploaded it to her official YouTube channel for her viewers.
“I don’t know you. I didn’t give you permission,” Ojo stated in the video, her initial shock quickly turning into intense fury as she addressed the flagrant intellectual property theft.
A Plea to Ghanaian Authorities
Frustrated by the incident, Iyabo Ojo did not limit her grievances to the TV station alone. She directly appealed to the Ghanaian authorities to take swift action against local broadcasters who exploit Nollywood content without proper licensing agreements. In her video, she tagged Ghana’s National Film Authority, the country’s Minister of Arts and Culture, and President John Mahama, urging them to clamp down on digital piracy.
Ojo also noted that this was not an isolated incident. She referenced fellow actress Bimbo Ademoye, who had previously raised similar alarms over her own content being pirated by Ghanaian stations. Ojo expressed deep disappointment that despite previous complaints, the practice seems to persist unchecked.
The Reality of Filmmaking Costs
To drive home the impact of piracy, Ojo broke down the massive financial investments required to bring a Nollywood movie to life. She listed several production expenses, including:
- Cast and crew fees
- High-end equipment rentals
- Location scouting and logistics
- Feeding and accommodation
- Costumes and makeup artistry
She argued that when television stations illegally broadcast these films, they directly starve filmmakers of their hard-earned revenue, making it nearly impossible to recoup investments via legitimate distribution channels like YouTube and streaming platforms.
The emotional video concluded with Ojo placing a verbal curse on the individuals behind the unauthorized broadcast. Her post has since garnered significant support from fans and Nollywood colleagues, including actress Destiny Etiko, who voiced her solidarity in the comment section.