In a powerful demonstration of solidarity with Palestinians, nearly 400 Ghanaian intellectuals, artists, activists, and organizations have launched an unprecedented campaign demanding the immediate cancellation of the Israeli Film Festival scheduled for September 16-20, 2025, at Silverbird Cinema in Accra Mall.
The campaign emerges as a formidable challenge to what participants describe as a “Zionist propaganda event” designed to sanitize Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza. A coalition of civil society groups has united with remarkable intensity, bringing together some of Ghana’s most respected public figures and thought leaders.
Veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr., former CHRAJ Commissioner Emile Short, and renowned filmmaker Nii Kwate Owoo are among the prominent signatories who have lent their voices to the movement. They argue that the film festival represents a deeply troubling attempt to normalize what they characterize as genocide, citing Israeli admissions of over 200,000 Palestinian casualties – a devastating figure representing approximately 10% of Gaza’s population.
The campaign draws profound strength from Ghana’s historical anti-imperialist traditions, invoking the country’s long-standing legacy of supporting liberation struggles. Activists are positioning their opposition as part of a global wave of resistance against what they term “racist, apartheid” policies, connecting local activism to an international movement of solidarity.
Organizers have developed a comprehensive strategy that includes peaceful picketing at Silverbird Cinema, targeted boycotts of festival sponsors, extensive public awareness campaigns, and international solidarity mobilization. The campaign has placed several organizations under intense scrutiny, including SAF STLAmandi Foundation, Kempinski Hotel, Rolider, Sienna Services, EON, and most controversially, the University of Media, Arts and Communications (UniMac).
Activists are explicitly linking their campaign to ongoing International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ) proceedings, suggesting potential legal consequences for those perceived as complicit in human rights violations. The movement’s language is uncompromising, with a core statement that resonates with moral clarity: “We cannot stand by while the genocide of Palestinians is laundered through art and culture. Ghana has always stood on the side of the oppressed – today we must stand with Palestine.”
The coalition represents an extraordinary cross-section of Ghanaian society, bringing together human rights groups, student networks, trade unions, feminist collectives, LGBTQ rights organizations, and pan-African movements. This diverse alliance underscores the depth and breadth of support for the Palestinian cause.
Campaign spokesperson Gyekye Tanoh has made himself available for media inquiries, with contact details widely circulated. The hashtags #FREEPALESTINE and #BOYCOTTISRAEL have become rallying cries, signaling the movement’s alignment with global solidarity efforts.
What began as opposition to a film festival has transformed into a profound moment of moral reckoning. The campaign represents more than a local protest – it symbolizes an increasingly organized global movement of solidarity with Palestinians, leveraging cultural and economic pressure to challenge systemic oppression.
As the September 16 festival date approaches, anticipation builds. Silverbird Cinema and its sponsors find themselves at the center of a mounting storm of public pressure. The activists’ resolve is clear: there will be no compromise, no normalization of what they view as crimes against humanity. The eyes of Ghana – and indeed, the world – are watching closely, waiting to see how these institutions will respond to this powerful challenge.
The post Ghanaian activists launch campaign demanding cancellation of Israeli film festival over Gaza genocide appeared first on Ghana Business News.
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