Veteran Ghanaian filmmaker and multiple award-winning director, Jackson K. Bentum, has stated that Kumawood is far from dead—it is merely evolving and awaiting the infrastructure to match global standards.
According to him, the absence of cinemas across Ghana, particularly in Kumasi, has led to the false perception that the local movie industry has collapsed.
Speaking to Graphic Showbiz on Friday, July 4, 2025, Bentum addressed long-standing concerns that Kumawood is no longer active due to the disappearance of physical CD sales. He emphasized that the industry, much like Hollywood and Bollywood, has transitioned into new formats but lacks the vital exhibition spaces to showcase its work.
“Kumawood is not dead; it is just waiting for its moment in the spotlight again,” Bentum said. “We’ve stopped selling CDs, yes, but that’s not a death sentence. What we lack are cinemas. That’s the missing link.”
Bentum, a passionate advocate for the Kumasi-based film movement, lamented the fact that other nations have embraced cinema culture while Ghana still struggles to provide adequate screening infrastructure. He stressed that cinema is the heartbeat of every successful film industry and called on private investors and government institutions to support the building of theatres nationwide.
“The cinematic experience that audiences worldwide cherish must also happen here,” he added. “With more cinemas, the public will realise that we are still producing great content.”
While acknowledging that the global cinema industry saw a decline in ticket sales by 8.8% in 2024, Bentum remains optimistic. He referenced data from Statista, which predicts Ghana’s cinema market will rebound, generating US$7.24 million in 2025 and rising to US$7.59 million by 2030 with a 0.94% annual growth.
Despite this promise, Bentum expressed frustration that many stakeholders seem more concerned about ownership rights to the “Kumawood” name than addressing the structural issues hampering the industry.
“We spend too much time fighting over who owns the Kumawood brand instead of focusing on infrastructure, distribution, and collaboration,” he noted.
Bentum also encouraged Ghanaian filmmakers to embrace online movie streaming services, which have become vital tools for content distribution worldwide.
In closing, he called on both the private and public sectors to prioritize investment in the cinema ecosystem, including theatre construction, equipment, and training.
“If we want Kumawood to thrive again, we must provide spaces for people to experience our films the way they’re meant to be experienced—on the big screen.”
As Ghana’s movie industry seeks a fresh path forward, voices like Bentum’s are reminding the nation that cinema infrastructure, not nostalgia for CDs, holds the key to Kumawood’s comeback.
