A movie released with months of hard work was allegedly broadcast without permission within 24 hours. Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo says the incident is another painful reminder of the piracy challenges facing filmmakers.

Less than a day after premiering "The Memory of You Part 2" on YouTube, Ojo accused North East TV in Ghana of airing the movie without her approval.

According to the actress, she woke up to discover the alleged unauthorized broadcast and expressed disappointment that her work was being shown on television while the station could profit from it without her consent.

"You just took my movie that I posted on my YouTube channel, not even up to 24 hours, and put it on your TV for people to watch for free while you make money. How do we make our money back?" she said.

Ojo appealed to the Ghana National Film Authority, Ghana's entertainment ministry, and the country's leadership to investigate the matter. She stressed that filmmakers spend heavily on actors, locations, costumes, accommodation, equipment, and production, making piracy a serious threat to their livelihood.

The allegation also sparked reactions from fellow Nollywood stars. Actress Destiny Etiko claimed similar incidents had affected many filmmakers, while Bimbo Ademoye said unauthorized broadcasts of Nigerian movies have become a recurring problem.

At the time of reporting, there had been no public response from the television station regarding the allegation.

Creative work deserves protection, and many filmmakers say piracy continues to threaten the future of the industry.