Ekow Smith Asante, a Ghanaian actor and film producer, has shed light on the financial issues that actors and actresses confront in the Ghanaian film industry.
He underlined that the low compensation in the industry makes it impossible for them to afford properties in desirable neighborhoods such as East Legon.
Ekow Smith revealed to Fiifi Pratt on Kingdom FM that owning a property in East Legon is a difficult concept for artists and actresses since they frequently rely on favors and gifts to be able to reside in such posh communities.
“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 shared.
He refuted the myth that Ghanaian celebrities and actresses live extravagant lives, claiming that their incomes are insufficient to support such luxury.
According to Ekow Smith, while performers may receive gifts from individuals in exchange for their parts in movies, raising enough finances to build a mansion without such assistance would take a long time.
He also brought up the issue of how much performers are paid, emphasizing the vast discrepancy between them and their Nigerian colleagues, who take a more business-oriented approach and make millions of dollars.
Ekow Smith also stated that many performers and actresses of his generation were unable to invest in their profession due to the business’s low earnings, particularly when compared to the Nigerian film industry.
He believes that Nigerian stars emphasize business enterprises, which impedes the growth of the Ghanaian film industry. He remarked that due to the industry’s inability to deliver considerable financial returns, performers of his generation turned to other companies, such as running restaurants, to supplement their income.
Ekow Smith, who now lives in the United Kingdom, has joined a long list of industry stalwarts, including Mikky Osei Berko, Fred Amugi, Mama Jane, and Pascaline Edwards, who have openly admitted to the lack of financial rewards in Ghana’s acting profession.
Despite Ekow Smith’s comments, actresses like Jackie Appiah, Yvonne Nelson, and Tracey Boakye are proud homeowners in East Legon and its neighboring districts, dwelling among Ghana’s rich elite.
