Majid Michel calls comparisons between Ghana and Nollywood stupid

Veteran Ghanaian actor Majid Michel has strongly criticized the persistent comparisons made between Ghana’s film industry and Nigeria's Nollywood. Speaking on the perceived competition between the two sectors, the acclaimed actor described such comparisons as "stupid," pointing out that the fundamental differences in population and market size make a direct benchmarking exercise both unfair and illogical. He argued that the scale of the two nations is too disparate to allow for a meaningful side-by-side evaluation of their creative outputs.

According to Michel, the primary factor that sets the two industries apart is the sheer size of Nigeria’s population. He explained that Nigeria’s larger demographic provides a significantly deeper pool of talent and a much larger consumer base than Ghana can offer. By virtue of having millions more people, the Nigerian market naturally possesses a scale and a level of internal competition that the Ghanaian industry cannot currently match, which inherently skews any attempt to evaluate their respective growths on an equal footing.

Beyond simple demographics, Michel also highlighted the importance of institutional development and leadership experience in the evolution of cinema. He noted that countries with more established systems and longer-running professional structures hold a distinct advantage over those still in the process of building their film industries from the ground up. He emphasized that these structural advantages, rather than just creative talent, often dictate the pace at which a national industry expands and professionalizes.

The actor's comments come amid a long-standing debate among fans and industry critics regarding why the Ghanaian film industry appears to lag behind Nollywood in terms of international reach and production volume. By shifting the focus to structural and demographic realities, Michel suggests that the conversation should move away from regional rivalry and toward more realistic expectations for the local industry's unique path of progress.