Outgoing PRO of the Film Producers Association of Ghana, Michael Ola, has hit back at veteran film actor, Agya Koo, for comments to the effect that the film industry has declined under the government of President John Dramani Mahama.
In an interview with Showbiz, Michael Ola said Agya Koo has only himself to blame for the death of his career and described Agya Koo as a dictator whose actions ultimately caused him to get side-lined by directors.
Micheal Ola said during his prime, Agya Koo made life difficult for producers who wanted to work with him by making unreasonable demands and side-lining directors and producers who refused to kowtow to his demands.
“Agya Koo during his prime saw himself as a demi-god; he dictated to directors how he should be directed. Producers joined long queues after paying huge sums of money, in order to have him on their production sets and when he finally arrived, they were given two working days to finish with him. He side-lined most directors and producers and only decided to work with those who met his demands,” he said.
Michael Ola claimed that the decline in Agya Koo’s career over the last five years was a result of the producers he sidelined deciding to pay him back in his own coin.
“The same producers and directors he refused to work with were the same ones who were getting all the jobs later on. They decided to pay him back albeit his career was ending and his market value dropping,” he said.
Michael Ola reiterated his claim that Agya Koo’s recent endorsement of Nana Akufo Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was due to the fact that Agya Koo was unsuccessful in his attempts to join the NDC.
“Before endorsing the NPP, Agya had been on several radio stations accusing one filmmaker or the other for ending his career. It is, therefore, funny to hear him accuse the NDC government for same,” he said.
“He destroyed his career himself and is now fighting for survival. Not long ago, he was heard fighting for royalties. This man cared less for such pennies accrued from royalties? We are sure he doesn’t know how much the industry has been given by the NDC government in terms of funds and structures,” he said.
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