Players in Ghana’s Movie Industry Are NOT Business Minded | They’ve Watched On Unconcerned For a Bank to Take Over Accra’s Only Biggest Surviving Cinema

At long last, the biggest surviving cinema left in Accra, Plaza Cinema, has been sold out to UniCredit Ghana Ltd – after it was long abandoned to rot.

Opposite the Mamprobi Ebenezer Presbyterian Church and five meters away on the right side of Mamprobi post office in Accra, is Plaza cinema. Built over 50 years ago, Plaza cinema was not the only cinema Accra had in the 90s.

We had: Rex Cinema, Roxy Cinema, Orion Cinema, Opera Cinema, Globe Cinema, Dunia Cinema, Ophel Cinema, Orbit Cinema, Laskala Cinema, Olympio Cinema, 5-Star Cinema, Royal Cinema, Rega Cinema, and others. Today, most of these cinemas have been architecturally turned into churches and big stores.

After most of the above cinemas were sold, we still have Rex Cinema, Roxy Cinema and Plaza – with Plaza Cinema being the biggest of them all. Today, Plaza Cinema has been sold to UniCredit. GhanaCelebrities.Com gathered earlier (about 3 months ago) from one filmmaker that Plaza Cinema has long been under litigation between GAMA Films and the Ga Mantse Chiefs.

Indeed, 3 months ago when GhanaCelebrities.Com visited the cinema, we saw a huge inscription in front of the cinema which read: ‘Ga Chiefs Entertainment Center.’ We therefore tried all we could to get in touch with the chiefs but all our attempts proved bootless. Currently, the whole cinema has been protected with a sign pole reading: ‘Property of UniCredit Ghana Ltd, Keep off.’

Plaza Cinema, had several advantages our filmmakers could have tapped in but they did not. Location-wise, Plaza Cinema is at a vantage point. Hundred meters from its right side is Mamprobi police station. Another hundred meters from its left side is Korle-Bu teaching hospital.

The essence is that, if a movie is being screened or premiered and the organizers face unwarranted hooliganism from agitated audience, policemen can just walk to the scene and calm the grounds. Should there be casualties, they could be easily conveyed to Korle-Bu in no time for medical attention.

Aside using the cinema for movie premiers and screenings, it could also be used for almost all musical concerts. Unfortunately, the over 50 year old Plaza Cinema, was abandoned to decay.

Today, Plaza Cinema is gone! The big question is: who is to blame for this – GAMA Films, Government, or Ghanaian filmmakers? Indeed, Ghana’s movie industry is at it lowest and needs serious minds to succor it. Until then……MOTWUM!!