Revival of cinemas ‘cure’ for Kumawood ––Film producer Jackson K Bentum
It might be wobbling on its feet at the moment, but Ghanaian veteran and award-winning movie director, Jackson K. Bentum has once again confirmed that Kumawood's film industry is not dead. Its revival depends on the establishment of cinemas across the country.
Bentum believes many assume Kumawood has flat-lined simply because movies are no longer sold on CDs. He points out that the industry has evolved, just like others around the globe.
Speaking to Graphic Showbiz on Friday, July 4, 2025, Bentum, who leads a movement aimed at revitalising the once-thriving Kumawood, explained that while other film industries have adapted to screening movies in cinemas, Ghana has not kept pace due to a lack of cinema infrastructure. This has resulted in a misconception among the public that the Kumasi film industry no longer exists.
“Kumawood is not dead, it is just waiting for its moment in the spotlight again. When you look at major film industries such as Bollywood and Hollywood, they have transitioned from physical media to dazzling theatre premieres. Here in Ghana, we’ve also stopped selling CDs, and that’s why some people believe the industry is defunct.
The real issue is that we lack enough cinemas. If we had more, people would realise the movie industry is still vibrant. The cinematic experience that audiences worldwide cherish must also happen here," he added. (Read I don’t want to be signed on to any record label – Moliy)
The global cinematic landscape experienced a downturn, with ticket sales dropping 8.8 per cent in 2024—the first annual decline since the COVID pandemic, according to the European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO) at Cannes in May last year.
The decline follows years of recovery for the industry since the collapse caused by pandemic restrictions in 2020.
Yet, there’s a flicker of hope in Ghana. Online data gathering outfit, Statista, forecasts a resurgence in Ghana’s cinema market, projected to generate US$7.24 million in 2025 and a growth rate of 0.94 per cent annually, reaching US$7.59m by 2030.
But amidst these flickering positives for the industry, Bentum expressed concerns that although the industry faces challenges, stakeholders were more focused on disputes over the patent of Kumawood.
