''Ghana Must Go'' is a 2016 Ghana-Nigerian

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...

film, directed by

Frank Rajah Arase Frank Rajah Arase (born Frank Rajah Efosa Arase) is a Nigerian film director. Arase is a native of Edo State, Nigeria. He was nominated for '' Best Director'' at the 4th Africa Movie Academy Awards. Early life Arase was born in Benin City, Edo ...

. It stars

Yvonne Okoro Chinyere Yvonne Okoro is a Ghanaian Nigerian actress. Born to a Nigerian dad and Ghanaian mother, Yvonne Okoro is of mixed lineage and calls herself an African. Yvonne Okoro is from Koforidua in the Eastern Parts of Ghana. She received Ghana Mo ...

Blossom Chukwujekwu Blossom Chukwujekwu is a Nigerian actor, who made his professional acting debut in 2009. In 2015, he won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Early life and education Born Chukwudi Echezona Chukwujekwu on ...

and

Nkem Owoh Nkem Owoh (born 7 February 1958) is a Nigerian actor and comedian. In 2008, he won the African Movie Academy Award for "Best Actor in a Leading Role" for his role in the Nigerian film, "''Stronger than Pain"''. Early life Nkem Owoh was born in E ...

. The film tells a story of two lovers of different countries on origin, and the challenges they faced especially from parents after disclosing their intention of getting married. This is the second film from Desamour Company, since

Contract (2012 film) ''Contract'' is a 2012 Ghanaian film produced by Yvonne Okoro and directed by Shirley Frimpong-Manso, starring Hlomla Dandala, Joseph Benjamin and Yvonne Okoro. It received six nominations at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards The 9th Africa ...

The film was screened privately at Filmhouse Cinemas, Surulere in May 2016.

Cast

as Ama *

Ik Ogbonna Ikechukwu Mitchel Ogbonna, professionally known as IK Ogbonna, is a Nigerian film and television actor, model, director, and television personality. He was in the movie ''Playing Safe'' alongside Tonto Dikeh and Ini Edo. Career Ogbonna took par ...

as Chuks *

Helen Paul Helen Paul is a Nigerian comedian, singer and actress. She is also a stand-up comedian, known as Tatafo, characterized by a voice range that makes her sound like a child. She graduated with a doctorate in Theatre, Theater Arts from the Univers ...

* Ada Ameh *

Plot

The film starts with Chuks (

), a young man from a low class Nigerian family and Ama(

), a young woman from a wealthy Ghanaian household returning to Ghana from schooling in London. Both have been in a relationship for a while, and on the introduction of Bloom as a Nigerian to the family of Ama, their relationship gets threatened due to the stereotyped perception of her family towards Nigerians. With Okoro's father,

Kofi Adjorlolo Kofi Adjorlolo (born 23 March 1956 in Keta) is a Ghanaian actor and producer. He has been nominated once for Best Actor in a Lead Role at the Ghana Movie Awards, and four times for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, at the Ghana Movie Awards, Afri ...

being the most irritated by the relationship especially due to the manner Nigerian authorities handled Ghana Must Go situation in the early 80s. On discovery that his daughter was already married to the Chuks, Kofi tried to manage the situation more favorably, but things got worse when his eccentric son, IK Ogbonna picks the family of Chuks, consisting of

and Ada Ameh at the airport on an invitation from Chuks. After several ups and down from the culture shock caused by the economic and ethnic differences between both families, the couple finally renewed their vows in Ghana with the presence and blessings of their parents.

Reception

Yvonne Chinyere Anoruo of Olisa TV praised the acting of the main characters in the film. However, she noted that the film incorrectly tried to place Ghana as more developed and enlightened than Nigeria. It concluded its review by saying the film was "very entertaining and enlightening even with its candid bites into history. So pause from worrying about the flailing economy and notorious power failure of the recent days and go calm your mind". Andrew Oke of cinema review gave credit to the acting of the main character, but noted that the movie was poorly produced and managed. The movie in review was likened to a pot of soup that had all the necessary ingredients but came out poor because it was not done with the touch of an expert. Chidumga Izuzu of Pulse Nigeria summarized her review by stating that the film "is a well-made movie with often very funny scenes".

References

{{reflist Nigerian romantic comedy films Ghanaian comedy films 2016 romantic comedy films