Ghanaian actor Majid Michel has questioned the fairness of comparing Ghana’s film industry with Nigeria’s Nollywood, saying the population difference between the two countries makes such assessments unreasonable.
Speaking during an interview with Y1079 FM in Accra, Michel argued that Nigeria’s much larger population gives it a greater chance of producing more filmmakers, performers and other creative professionals.
He said comparisons that ignore population size fail to consider one of the key factors influencing the growth and scale of an entertainment industry.
Michel strongly criticised the practice, describing the comparison as “stupid” and using an example involving two groups of different sizes to explain his position.
He said a group with 50 children would statistically have a greater chance of producing more professionals in different fields than a group with only five children.
Read Also: Ogun 2027: LP, AA Candidates Threaten Legal Action Over Alleged PDP Register Tampering
The actor estimated Ghana’s population at fewer than 40 million, contrasting it with Nigeria’s population of more than 200 million and potentially close to 300 million.
He argued that Nigeria’s larger population makes it reasonable for the country to have more actors and filmmakers.
Michel added that the same principle applied to other professions, including medicine, where a larger population could produce more practitioners.
The veteran actor also cautioned against comparing Ghana with more established nations without considering their historical development.
He said some countries had spent more than 300 years developing leadership structures and institutions, giving them advantages that Ghana was still working to build.
According to Michel, Ghana remains in a developmental phase in certain areas of leadership, making comparisons with countries that have more established systems unfair.
His comments come amid continuing discussions about the relative achievements and international reach of Ghanaian cinema and Nollywood.
Michel’s argument centres on the view that population size and institutional development should form part of any meaningful assessment of the countries’ film industries.
