Pete Edochie
Veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie has made a heartfelt appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to back Ghana’s film industry with funding, saying local filmmakers will pay the money back if they are given the chance to shoot. The legendary actor, who is in Accra for activities linked to his Legacy Project, also described Ghana as his “second home” and spoke emotionally about his late friend, former President Jerry John Rawlings.
Pete Edochie’s Message to President Mahama
Speaking during his ongoing visit to Accra, Edochie said he believes the President would listen if Ghana’s movie makers approached him directly for support.
According to Pulse Ghana, the actor suggested a simple deal: the government gives the industry a set amount of money and a time frame, filmmakers go out and make films, and the funds are returned.
“I believe that if you make a direct appeal to him, support us, challenge us with this amount of money, let’s go and shoot films, give us so and so time, we shall return the money,” he said.
He added a line that several Ghanaian outlets have since used as their headline: “If I say, your excellency, sir, don’t let our industry die in Ghana, he will respond.”
Why he has faith in Mahama
Edochie pointed to Mahama’s open-door message to Africans in the diaspora as a reason for his confidence. He praised the way the President has welcomed people of African descent abroad to come and settle in Ghana.
“The way he opened his arms to our brothers in America and others in diaspora, come over here and settle down, right? People who have been victimized all these years, Ghana is there for you,” he said.
A Film Industry Looking for a Lifeline
The appeal comes at a time when Ghana’s movie industry, often called Ghallywood, is trying to find its feet in a fast-changing market. YouTube, short-form videos and other digital platforms are opening new doors, but many players say big-budget productions are harder to fund than before.
The timing is also notable because Accra is currently hosting several Nollywood stars. Kumawood star LilWin recently brought a group of Nigerian actors to Ghana for his film project, a move covered in our report on Nollywood stars landing in Ghana for ‘A Journey to Africa’. LilWin later admitted that the cost of the project has given him sleepless nights.
“Ghana Is a Second Home for Me”
Beyond the funding appeal, Edochie has spent much of his visit speaking about his long ties with Ghana. In a chat with Ghanaian comic Parrot Mouth, he described the country as a second home and said he has many memories from his years of working here.
He arrived in Accra on September 29, 2026, dressed in a white outfit with a kente stole in Ghana’s national colours around his neck. His visit is tied to the Pete Edochie Legacy Project, an initiative meant to preserve his life experiences and body of work while inspiring younger generations.
Remembering Jerry John Rawlings
The most emotional part of his comments came when he spoke about Jerry John Rawlings, who died in November 2020. Edochie said the two men were born just three months apart in 1947 and shared a close friendship. People often said they looked alike.
He recalled their last meeting, when they spent hours together and Rawlings promised to visit him in Nigeria. That visit never happened.
“I tell you the truth, I’m sad. The last time I was in Ghana, I visited him, we had some very good time together, we discussed extensively and he promised me he was going to come to Nigeria,” Edochie said.
On hearing of Rawlings’ death, he said: “Well, I lost a brother but okay, if that’s how God wants it.” He also said he would like to visit the former President’s grave to pay his respects while in Ghana.
Reconnecting with old colleagues
Edochie has also been reaching out to Ghanaian actors he worked with in the past. Earlier this week, he paid a visit to veteran actor Emmanuel Armah, a moment we covered in our story on Pete Edochie visiting Emmanuel Armah in Ghana.
In a lighter moment, he also joked about Ghana’s historic football win over Nigeria in 1957, saying: “You beat us so badly, I don’t want to talk about it again here.”
Quick Facts
- Who: Pete Edochie, veteran Nigerian actor best known as Okonkwo in the TV adaptation of Things Fall Apart
- Where: Accra, Ghana
- Arrived: September 29, 2026
- Reason for visit: Activities linked to the Pete Edochie Legacy Project
- Main appeal: Asked President Mahama to fund Ghana’s film industry, promising the money would be repaid
- Tribute: Called the late Jerry John Rawlings “a brother” and plans to visit his grave
Final Word
Pete Edochie’s Ghana visit has turned into more than a celebration of his career. By calling on President Mahama to invest in local films, the Nollywood icon has added his voice to a long-running push to revive Ghallywood. Whether the government responds remains to be seen, but his message is clear: Ghana’s film industry should not be allowed to fade.
Leave a Comment