Gloria Sarfo Slams AMAA Over Alleged Fake Tickets

Ghanaian actress Gloria Sarfo has expressed frustration over what she described as an embarrassing experience at Kotoka International Airport, where she and other Ghanaian filmmakers were left stranded while trying to attend the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in Lagos, Nigeria.

According to Sarfo, who shared her experience in a social media video on Sunday, November 3, 2024, she and her colleagues were invited to the awards on an all-expenses-paid trip, only to discover that their flight tickets were invalid upon reaching the airport.

The incident occurred on November 1, 2024, and Sarfo recounted that despite being promised a fully-sponsored trip complete with flight details and an itinerary, the group found themselves stranded without support or clear communication from the organisers.

“This was a total embarrassment. We had to tell the other Ghanaian actors on their way to the airport to turn back,” she lamented. “You can’t tell me that you are giving me an all-expenses-paid trip and then I get stranded at the airport. It doesn’t work that way,” Sarfo added, noting that the disarray had caused her to miss several professional commitments, including a movie set, a feature film shoot, an awards night nomination, and her own movie premiere.

Sarfo also highlighted other well-known filmmakers, including Abdul Salam Mumuni, Akorfa Edjeani Asiedu, and Julia Apea, faced the same issues. These are respected industry veterans who, according to Sarfo, “began filmmaking before many Nigerians even started.”

She emphasized the unequal treatment Ghanaians seem to face compared to their Nigerian counterparts, saying, “We didn’t sleep; we woke up at dawn to get to the airport, only to be left stranded like this. We had to ask those on their way to turn back to avoid the same embarrassment. If these were Nigerian filmmakers, they wouldn’t have been treated this way,” she fumed.

Judith Oluwole Kuwornu, AMAA’s Country Director for Ghana, has responded to Sarfo’s public outcry during an interview on Hitz FM. Admitting the situation was unfortunate, Kuwornu noted that she had personally apologized to Sarfo, although she was disappointed that Sarfo chose to make the issue public rather than approach her directly.

“I have sent her a message of apology, but she kept on doing this… I’m sorry this happened,” said Kuwornu, adding, “Maybe you are trying to reignite the face of AMAA for us in our own way. We take it like that.”

Kuwornu explained that while AMAA strives to ensure smooth travel arrangements, logistical challenges can sometimes arise, particularly since they lack a dedicated airline or private jet. She reassured that AMAA would issue an official statement to clarify the situation and address the broader issues.

Despite the travel debacle, Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah secured the Best Actress in a Lead Role award for her performance in Red Carpet, while filmmaker Harry Bentil won Best Debut Director for Letters to Goddo.

However, the experience has cast a shadow over what was intended to be a celebratory event for the Ghanaian film industry.