Regina Van-Helvert
Actress and radio/TV presenter Regina Van-Helvert has described awards for her film, ‘Jungle Justice’, at the just-ended Ghana Movie Awards (GMA) as a win for the laws of Ghana.
The film which is about mob justice picked two awards at the award ceremony in best short film category and best actress in lead role, won by Yvonne Nelson.
According to Regina, she hopes the win would further encourage Ghanaians not to take the law into their own hands by engaging in mob justice.
“Making ‘Jungle Justice’ was about challenging us as a people to allow the laws to work. Many lives have been lost in the most saddest way through mob justice and we need to stop it. It can happen to anyone. I am glad the film has won two major awards. For me, it is a win for our laws and the rule of law. I hope it further challenges us not to take the laws into our own hands whatsoever. Let us allow the law to work. If someone does something wrong, report him or her to the police,” she told NEWS-ONE.
‘Jungle Justice’ was released on August 24, 2018 amidst a campaign against public extrajudicial killings in sub-Saharan Africa, most notably Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon, where an alleged criminal is humiliated, beaten or summarily executed by a crowd or vigilantes.
Directed by Idowu Okeniyi and produced by Regina Van-Helvert, it stars Yvonne Nelson, John Dumelo, Strika, among others.
The movie attracted widespread social media presence as people imbibed with the message and joined the hashtag #stopjunglejustice across all social media platforms.
Regina is optimistic she would do more educative projects like ‘Jungle Justice’ to affect society in the best way she can. The award for her film is her first GMA win.