Ghanaian Moviestars Will Struggle To Build A Villa In East Legon – Ekow Smith

Ghanaian entertainer and film producer, Ekow Smith Asante has emphasized the financial constraints confronted by actors and actresses in the Ghanaian film enterprise, expressing that they cannot purchase bungalows in exceptional residential neighbourhoods like East Legon due to the industry’s insufficient compensation.

According to Ekow Smith, putting up a home in East Legon is a tough possibility for actors and actresses as they depend on favours and gifts to reside in such upscale vicinities.

Granting an interview to host Fiifi Pratt on Accra-based radio station, Kingdom FM, he clarified that the cash accumulated by Ghanaian actors and actresses is inadequate to maintain a lavish lifestyle, opposite to popular assumption.

“I think building a house in East Legon would be difficult. It is very dicey because actors and actresses for instance, get favours”, Ekow Smith conveyed.

He stressed that while performers may accept gifts from people established in their roles in films, it would take a substantial portion of time to amass enough funds without such aid.

He posed the question of whether many actors are settled stressing the discrepancy approximated to their Nigerian peers who are making fortunes by taking a more business-oriented course in the industry.

“Somebody can give me something because of my particular role in a movie. With gifts from people, it can support you to build, but I think it will take a very long time without it. How much are you paid, GHc10, 000, Ghc20, 000, Ghc30, 000 or what? ” he asked.

Ekow Smith proceeded and disclosed that many actors and actresses from his period were unable to invest in their skills due to the industry’s low earnings in comparison to Nigeria.

“Nigerians are doing business and we are doing the show; that is why we don’t progress…that is the truth. The money we get can only display our show, not the business.” Mr Ekow Asante scrutinized.

He, therefore indicated that actors of his time have embarked on other businesses, such as operating restaurants, due to the industry’s incapacity to furnish significant monetary returns.

“If you realize, many actors of my time are branching into their private businesses. Some are operating restaurants, among others. Who is investing in show business? Who? How many of us, I don’t know”, Ekow Smith Asante divulged.

Ekow Smith, who currently lives in the United Kingdom, counts his name to a list of industry legends, including Mikky Osei Berko, Fred Amugi, Mama Jane, and Pascaline Edwards, who have plainly conceded the lack of monetary compensation in the Ghanaian acting space.

Opposite to Ekow Smith’s comments, actresses such as Jackie Appiah, Yvonne Nelson, and Tracey Boakye are proud East Legon residence owners and their surrounding neighbourhoods living among Ghana’s well-to-do aristocracy.