Renowned Ghanaian filmmaker Shirley Frimpong-Manso has highlighted the harsh reality of how creatives in Ghana often face criticism rather than celebration—even in moments of achievement.
In an exclusive interview with Doreen Avio on Daybreak Hitz, the award-winning filmmaker recounted the backlash she received over her outfit at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), rather than being applauded for her success.
“I remember when I won, what people wanted to talk about was my dress, because they said it was too short and everybody else was wearing a gown,” she recalled.
“I remember someone commenting, saying ‘Ghanaians, are you for real? The girl goes and wins an award, and the only thing Ghanaians wanted to talk about was her dress and the fact that she didn’t wear a gown. Can you believe it?’”
Shirley expressed concern over what she described as a recurring fixation on trivial matters within the Ghanaian creative space—at the expense of recognising actual accomplishments.
She noted that such attitudes discourage creatives from striving for greater heights.
“And now you’re upset that nobody is winning anything,” she said. “When we have won, what have we done? Even when we’ve been nominated, do we make enough noise about it?”
The veteran filmmaker urged players in the Ghanaian creative industry to shift their focus from negative publicity and instead support and uplift one another in order to be competitive on the global stage.