2015 AMAA drama: Mistake or Ghana was cheated?

There seem to be some controversy as to whether Ghana won an award at the 2015 edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) which came off last Saturday.

This year’s edition of the awards was held in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. This was the first time the awards night were being held outside the event’s traditional home of Nigeria.

On the night, Nigerian actress Hilda Dokubo was announced as the winner of the Best Supporting Actress category on stage.

Shortly after that announcement, news emerged that a mistake may have occurred because it was rather Ghanaian actress Ama Ampofo who had won.

Ama was a contender in that category with her role in Shirley Frimpong Manso’s movie, ‘Devil In The Detail’.

The Ghanaian actress who was clearly not amused about the development posted on Instagram “After a hard day’s work …. is this what I have to go through to know what I “deserve or not”….. I’m disappointed….”

“Thanks to my fans  for the support. I’m really Surprised with what’s going on and simply can’t say much on what to expect …… All the same thanks for the support. Really appreciate”, she added.

Myjoyonline.com’s investigations into the issue has revealed that the confusion as to who won that category was caused by an initial tweet by the official twitter handle of the awards, @AMAAWARDS, which declared Ama Ampofo as the winner.

Myjoyonline.com spoke to some journalists at the awards in South Africa who confirmed that Hilda Dokubo was announced on stage as the winner of the category.

The journalists stated categorically that Ghana did not win any award on the night.

The organisers of the awards, Myjoyonline.com’s checks reveal, later tweeted Hilda Dokubo as the winner of the category. They were, as at the time of filing this report, yet to delete the tweet declaring Ama as winner.

Full list of winners at this year’s awards:

Best Animation – The Legacies of Rubbies (Nigeria)

Best Child Actor – “Layla Walet Mohammed and Mehdi A.G Mohammed – Timbuktu”

Best Nigerian film – ‘October 1?

Best Documentary – Egypt Modern Pharaohs

Best Diaspora – ‘Supremacy’ (USA)

Best Short Film – “Twaaga – Burkina Faso”

Best Film By An African Living Abroad – Fevers (Morocco)

Best visual effect – INumber Number

Winner for Achievement In Make-up – “Njinga: Queen of Angola – Angola”

Achievement in sound – Lobraz Kaan (Mauritius)

Best achievement in soundtrack – ‘Triangle’ (Ethiopia)

Achievement in editing – Timbuktu

Best Comedy Film – 30 days in Atlanta – Nigeria

Achievement In Screenplay – “Le President – Cameroun”

Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Samson Tadese (Triangle, Ethiopia)

Best Actress in Supporting Role – Hilda Dokubo (Nigeria)

Best Promising Actor – Joint award Kemi Lala Akindoju (Dazzling Mirage) and Hassan Spike (Boda Boda thieves)

Best Actor in a Leading Role – Sadiq Daba

Best First Feature Film By A Director – “Destiny Ekaragha – Gone Too Far”

Special Jury Prize – Le President (Cameroon) and Triangle: Going to America (Ethiopia)

Life achievement award – Tony Vander Heyden (Movie director/producer).