- Leila Djansi says she was originally set to produce The Woman King in Ghana.
- The project moved to South Africa due to better equipment and infrastructure.
- Djansi believes Ghana’s cultural landscape was better suited to the film’s story.
- Her comments highlight ongoing challenges in Ghana’s film production capacity.
- The incident has sparked renewed calls for investment in crew training and logistics.
Ghanaian-American filmmaker Leila Djansi has revealed that she was originally slated to produce the acclaimed Hollywood film The Woman King in Ghana — but the opportunity slipped away due to infrastructure challenges and competition from South Africa.
Speaking in a recent interview, Djansi expressed frustration over losing the project, citing Ghana’s lack of ultramodern production equipment as a key factor. Although a portion of the film was eventually shot in Ghana, she noted that the bulk of the production was relocated to South Africa, which had the technical edge.
Djansi believes the film’s storyline — rooted in West African history — would have resonated more deeply with Ghanaian audiences and locations. She pointed to the Volta Region, Benin, and Togo as culturally aligned spaces that could have brought greater authenticity to the project.
Her comments have reignited conversations about Ghana’s readiness to host major international productions. Industry insiders say the country’s scenic potential is often overshadowed by logistical gaps, including poor road networks, limited crew capacity, and outdated equipment.
Djansi, known for her outspoken views on industry reform, has long advocated for stronger crew development and better infrastructure. Her disappointment over The Woman King reflects a broader concern: that Ghana’s film industry risks missing out on global opportunities unless it invests in foundational upgrades
