Exploring ethics management in documentary filmmaking in Ghana

This paper explores how Ghanaian documentary filmmakers manage ethical issues in their daily practices by identifying the guiding ethical principles that shape their decisions. A qualitative research approach was employed for this study, using thirteen documentary filmmakers from Ghana, chosen using purposive and snowball sampling techniques as the sample size. The gathered data was analysed thematically through the lens of Kohlberg’s CMD theory. The findings revealed instances involving delicate participants’ cultural customs that filmmakers regarded as challenges to achieving veracity and comprehensiveness of film stories. It was discovered that emphasising openness, trust, and effective communication were strategies harnessed by some Ghanaian filmmakers to overcome their ethical dilemmas. The study concludes that it is important for documentary filmmakers to have context-specific ethical principles and to regularly reflect on their practices, highlighting the need for integrating ethical reflection into film training and practice in Ghana, as well as developing context-specific ethical codes for filmmakers to eliminate biases and discretionary ethical approaches that are fluid and weaken standards.