Readers’ Mail: My Honest Opinion On FIPAG, It’s Ban & Socrate Sarfo + Why FIPAG Should Ban Socrate Sarfo Rather…

I will borrow the international relation’s definition of power, “The ability of one country to get another to do its bidding” as cited in IR The New World Order of International Relations, fifth edition (Roskin, Michael G. and Berry, Nicholas, O., 2002) to begin my argument in response to Ghanacelebrities.com article, Socrate Sarfo Clears The Air On Kofi Adjorlolo & Ekow Smith Ban + Talks About His New Movie Coming Out Soon “What Sex Can Do”…

The reason for using the opening definition is to eliminate the misconception that power automatically equates force.  In reading the aforementioned article I was struck by, what I saw as missing information.

I will therefore, throughout this piece, pose a series of questions that came to my mind as I read the interview.

I needed some clarity on the legitimacy on the Film Producers Association of Ghana so I sought to engage some background information from my friend, Mr. Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri. Mr. Chris-Vincent Agyapong-Febiri is the founder of GhanaCelebrities.Com and the person who conducted the interview with Mr. Socrate Sarfo (PR of FIPAG).

I mentioned to Chris that I wanted to write a readers response to the interview but was doing a brief internet research on the legitimacy of FIPAG as to its affiliation with ECOWAS, Ghana’s Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Arts and Culture.

Our conversation made me privy, somewhat of a crash course in Ghana’s laws on free trade agreement as it relates to ECOWAS.

Basically what I learned was that the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) is a registered association/agency and its legal capacity obviously lies in the evidence of its certification of incorporation.

This led to consider its legal power to impose the laws, as Sarfo posed as his argument to criminal/misconduct of Mr. Ekow Smith Asante (who identified himself as the producer of the movie being shot on location) in working with Nigerians who did not obtain the proper paperwork to work in Ghana, as one the initial reason for a required meeting with FIPAG to discuss the issue.

Failure on the part of Mr. Ekow Smith Asante to comply with FIPAG’s request lead to him being banned.  Interestingly enough, Mr. Sarfo cited that it was the violation of ECOWAS regulations on free trade as the reason for Mr. Asante being banned but failed to say whether or not he, Sacrate Sarfo reported Mr. Asante’s violation of the country’s and ECOWAS’ laws to the appropriate agencies to deal with this as a legal matter.  It is after all, a legal matter to be handled by the country’s judicial system.

Sacrate Sarfo’s and FIPAG’s response led me to then inquire about the legitimacy of the power to ban individuals deemed to be in violation of the codes of conduct within the Ghana movie industry.

FIPAG apparently is the governing body of the Ghana movie industry, whether by self-imposition, automatic design or appointment.  Thus, my next question; how does one become a member of FIPAG?

I would like to know the process by which production houses or individuals become a member of FIPAG? Is there a registration process in which applicants are screened and educated on the codes of conduct under which the organization operates?

If, so then I can understand the authority to which FIPAG exercise penalty for violations.  Members would, all things being equal, sign an agreement to operate in accordance with FIPAG’s bylaws as well as Ghana’s legislation.

After all member States and signatories of the UN are required to follow their rules and as such subjected to disciplinary action(s) as pertaining to violations. This therefore would be a contractual agreement and penal enforcement as laid out would give credibility to FIPAG’s disciplinary actions.

Are the bylaws/codes of conduct of FIPAG known by its members? I sought to find a website for FIPAG to locate its board members and their position, codes of conduct and bylaws, etc.  I am yet to find such.

As far as my brief conversation and online research yielded, FIPAG is not even supported by any government agency or ministry.  They use the regulations of ECOWAS as an indictment against Mr. Smith Asante but failed to mention in-house violation.

I would like to see the government’s and ECOWAS’ penalty for this crime.  FIPAG (and Mr. Sarfo) as self-imposed police should follow up on all parties involved in the violations of the free trade regulations.

So far, FIPAG has not stated what actions have been taken on the Nigerians on this matter.  As a so-called regulatory body it is subjected to report all criminal actives to the proper authorities.

Yet another question I have is; is there a disciplinary board (unbiased) within the FIPAG to hold hearings for its members?

This is very important as it would serve to eliminate ‘mafia’ style justice.  It seems to me, that the only penalty for “violations” within this FIPAG organization is banning/sidelining.

That style of justice and penalty is utterly ridiculous.  Are the ban time limits on ‘violators’ arbitrary?  There should be a standard by which misconduct and violations are measured.

The arbitrary timeframe for banning individuals/members should be clearly stated and voted on by either a combination of ‘registered’ members and official board members or an agreement that the judicial board within FIPAG establish the disciplinary action within reason.

I wonder if banning a person is the only ‘disciplinary’ action available. FIPAG may want to look into that more closely.

Violation of laws, as Sarfo cited in relation to Mr. Ekow Smith Asante is very different from the misconduct of Mr.  Kofi Adjorlolo (and also Ms. Yvonne Nelson not mentioned in this particular interview).

Therefore each case should be considered on its own merit. Is there an appeal system in place?  Any organization looking out for the welfare of its members would have a structure in place wherewith an appeal can be made by person(s) cited as in violation of regulations and bylaws.

The helter-skelter disciplinary actions imposed by FIPAG caused me to question the legitimacy and mission of this organization.  It appears that FIPAG is actually falling into the ‘rabbit hole’ syndrome and meeting the objectionable ‘queen of hearts’ with low self-esteem.

Anyone who dares to challenge or threaten the status quo will be banned…’off with their heads’.  Rather than being laudable, FIPAG is laughable.

I truly believe that if FIPAG wants anyone to consider it a figure of legitimate authority it should look at the quality of the films, namely Sacrate Sarfo’s productions and subject him to its codes of conduct on quality.

Maybe a five year ban for Sarfo with monetary penalty and several required courses in film production at a credible institution would be the answer.

There are lots more to say but I have gone on long enough.  Comments, positive or negative are appreciated as long as they are constructive.

Thank you, Ms.  KL, USA