Renowned Ghanaian filmmaker Shirley Frimpong Manso has highlighted the harsh reality of criticisms over praises in the Ghanaian industry.

In an exclusive interview with Doreen Avio on Daybreak Hitz, the filmmaker recounted a series of backlash, aimed at talking down on her outfit at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, instead of praising her achievements.

“I remember when I won, what people wanted to talk about was my dress, because they said that my dress was so short and everybody else was wearing a gown.”

“ I remember someone commenting, saying Ghanaians, are you for real?"

"The girl goes and wins an award, and the only thing that Ghanaians wanted to talk about was my dress and the fact that I didn’t wear a gown, can you believe it?”

Shirley emphasised the recurring fixation on frivolous things by Ghanaians and the creative industry as a whole.

She added that such an attitude doesn’t encourage creatives to attain greater heights. “And now you are upset that nobody is winning anything. When we have won, what have we done?  Even when we have been nominated, Do we make enough noise about it?”, she rhetorically questioned.

The film maker also urged the Ghanaian creative industry to be devoid of promoting negative publicity, but rather focus on uplifting one another to match up to international competition.