Prominent Ghanaian actor, Majid Michael has warned his colleagues to stop asking for aid with regards to the ailing movie industry.

He logically explained that the movie industry did not need the government when it started, it should therefore not need the government now that it is facing problems.

According to his reasoning, waiting and hoping for the government to intervene is only a way to shift the burden and responsibility of the stakeholders in the movie industry; a problem which he posits can be solved if enough attention is paid to it.

This way of thinking is directly opposite the solution proffered by colleague actress and producer, Yvonne Nelson, who has been clamouring for the government to support the industry and intervene.

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The actress recently called for the collation of signatures by her from stakeholders in the movie industry to petition government over the difficulties facing the Ghanaian movie business. In her letter to the stakeholders, she wrote:

"We have heard some of our own on countless occasions slamming the industry for its decline with the favourite words ‘Ghana movie industry is dead’. It is quite disturbing to hear these words being uttered when asked about our industry. A once well-structured industry with lots of entertainment to give cannot, and will not be abandoned for it to be ruined."

"We aim to present a petition to the President and the Minister of Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture citing the difficulties facing us in the industry. We want to bring unity to all industry players, we aim to uplift the Ghana movie industry again for the better by making sure there is allocation of special funds for producers, right payment structures for all involved in the industry especially the thespians, royalties and its right disbursement, local content being the major viewers’ choice on our networks and allocation of cinema halls in five major regions across the country."

Majid Michael, however, believes the solution lies in the movie industry revisiting its old ways rather than rallying for government’s support.

He stated this in an interview with Hammer Nti on Kumasi-based Pure FM’s ‘Hammer Time’ entertainment program.

"We built this industry without the support from government so why now especially when they (Governments) have expressed less interest in this area over and over again…We need to go back to doing the things we were doing right in those days."

"Yvonne is my friend and I signed her petition but I told her my view regardless. The question is are they interested? Hammer, the solution lies in us and not them,” he said.