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Entertainment Pundit, Arnold Asamoah Baidoo has descended heavily on actor Kwaku Manu for claiming Ghana's movie industry is near collapse.

According to the actor, the movie industry is already saddled with lots of challenges and the impact of COVID-19 on the country has worsened the plight of the actors and actresses.

Kwaku Manu, in an interview on Peace FM's 'Entertainment Review', strongly defended his claims insisting the film industry is no more attractive because the producers and actors do not get financial assistance and even when the movies are made, the sales are down.

He appealed to the government to come to their aid.

Following Kwaku Manu's assertions, the President of the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG), James Aboagye also speaking in an interview with the host of the programme Akwasi Aboagye, emphasized that the movie industry is not at the verge of collapse. 

He highlighted some assistance the government has offered the film producers and other good initiatives undertaken by the association to salvage the situation facing the industry, which came as a surprise to Kwaku Manu who was also on the line listening to him.

"As far as I'm concerned as a Producer, the industry has not collapsed...Before the industry will collapse, then it is where people have stopped watching movies. But the question is have people stopped watching movies? The answer is no. It is because technology and situations have changed and unfortunately, we haven't been abreast with technological change...Today, we have smart TVs, smartphones; people are using desktop internet to watch it. So, people are still watching but the question is have we applied ourselves to this technology? The answer is no. So, the job hasn't dwindle. We have rather moved with technology...''When they come to say the industry has collapsed, which investor listening to such comments will invest their money in it?" he said.

After the FIPAG President's interview, Arnold Baidoo made his turn to comment on the issue.

To him, Kwaku Manu to say the movie industry is collapsing without knowing the things which are being done to resolve the situation exposes his sheer ignorance.

Arnold noted that Kwaku Manu's ignorance is largely because he is not a member of the Ghana Actors Guild.

He believed if the actor was a member of the Guild, he would have known about the inteventions to remedy the industry's challenges.

"He (Kwaku Manu) would have been able to make significant input into the growth of the movie industry if he were an active member of the association," Arnold Baidoo further stated.

He advised Kwaku Manu to stop sitting on the fence when it comes to joining the association if only he wants to make a difference so far as the growth of the industry is concerned.

"Maybe it was when he was in his prime age that he said I don't need this and we have active young entertainers like that. They think they've gotten to a certain stage, so they think they don't need to join them (the associations). Now, he comes telling us he should be given 20,000 cedis to pocket. Who told him we are not equally suffering? That's where the problem lies. First, before COVID, they thought the need to join associations and groupings doesn't matter. Sometimes, I don't understand them. The time when you were active, popular and have influence, clout and following and could join to help and make decisions; they do not care . . . Now that it's gone left, you're crying to who? Me? You're crying to me or who? That we should give you 20,000 cedis...Oh boss, we will all starve!'' he slammed the actor.