Jim Iyke Blames Emotions and Politics for Collapse of Ghana-Nigeria Movie Partnership
Nigerian actor Jim Iyke has revealed that the once-successful collaboration between Ghanaian and Nigerian film industries ended due to emotional reactions and political interference. During a recent interview with 3FM on July 24, he expressed disappointment over how a promising partnership collapsed because of unnecessary drama and personal feelings.
Jim Iyke explained that there was a time when filmmakers and actors from both countries worked together smoothly. That partnership created a strong bond that not only brought financial growth but also gave Ghanaian talents the exposure they needed. According to him, many of Ghana’s biggest stars gained recognition through that joint effort with Nollywood.
However, Iyke believes the downfall started when someone made a wrong comment and another person responded emotionally, which caused a rift between the industries. He suggested that the entire collaboration fell apart because of that single incident, which could have been avoided if both sides had stayed focused on the bigger goal.
He used his latest film SIN as an example, pointing out that no Ghanaian actor was featured in it due to the damaged relationship. He explained that although some talents were once unknown, the Nigeria-Ghana collaboration had helped bring them into the spotlight.
“They were in obscurity till that collaboration. Why end it because somebody spoke the wrong word and somebody got emotional?” he asked, expressing frustration that such a fruitful connection ended so abruptly.
Iyke also highlighted a cultural difference between the two countries. He said Nigerians are more likely to separate emotions from business, which helps them succeed. He added that in Nigeria, people can work with others even if they dislike them personally, as long as it benefits their careers or businesses.
He urged Ghanaians to adopt a similar mindset, stressing the importance of focusing on the collective progress of the industry rather than individual grievances. According to Iyke, if the two industries had stuck together and avoided letting personal issues interfere, they could have achieved even greater things.
In his final comments, Jim Iyke called for unity and a return to collaboration. He believes that by working together as a team, the creative industries in both countries can influence leadership and drive the growth of African cinema to new heights.
