Veteran actor Majid Michel has argued that Nigeria’s larger population gives Nollywood a natural advantage over Ghana’s movie industry, making direct comparisons between the two industries unfair.
Michel shared his opinion during a recent conversation with Y1079 FM Accra, where he challenged the tendency to compare Ghanaian filmmaking with Nigeria’s considerably larger entertainment sector.
The actor said Nigeria’s population provides a much broader talent pool, increasing the likelihood of producing more actors, directors, producers and other professionals.
He described comparisons between the countries as “stupid,” arguing that the difference in population should be considered before assessing their respective film industries.
“If you have 50 children and I have five children, the possibility that you will have more criminals, doctors, good children and filmmakers than me is very high,” Michel explained.
He noted that Ghana’s population is below 40 million, whereas Nigeria has more than 200 million people, with some estimates approaching 300 million.
According to him, Nigeria’s ability to produce more filmmakers is therefore unsurprising because its population is substantially larger.
Michel questioned why Ghana should be expected to match Nigeria in the number of professionals across different sectors without accounting for the difference in population.
The actor also broadened the discussion to national development, saying Ghana should be careful about comparing itself with countries that have spent centuries establishing governance structures and institutions.
He described Ghana as still developing in terms of leadership systems and argued that countries with longer histories of institutional development have advantages that should not be overlooked.
His position suggests that the performance of a country’s film industry should be assessed within the context of its population and available structures.
The comments have added another perspective to discussions about Nollywood’s scale and Ghana’s place in the African film industry.
