Ghana’s movie industry is now a joke, says Maame Dɔkono
Ghanaian actress, singer, media personality and author Grace Omaboe, also known as Maame Dɔkono, has said that there are no life lessons in the current movies produced in the country.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (7 August) Maame Dɔkono said, “I look at it [the movie industry] and I laugh in my head because I don’t see much lessons in what they are doing these days.”
According to the legendary actress, she only watches movies now for pleasure, “I listen to it and maybe I watch it for the fun of it.”
She added, “But during our time, we were not many, just a few of us. When a father, should play a father role, he’s an old man, an elderly man; he’s not made up with moustache and all that, powder and all that.”
She expressed her displeasure when Ghanaian comedian and actor Lil Win was once cast to play her husband.
“I remember one time they asked me to come and do a Kumawood movie and somebody was supposed to play my husband. I said, ah, how can a small boy like this play my husband?”
“You know, maybe I should mention the name, Lil Win. Yes, playing my husband. No, it can’t happen. I will not play [that role] because what at all is he going to tell me?”
“So I didn’t play [the role] and they got angry with me.”
She said, social media has had a significant impact on how acting is done these days.
“So when I look at the social media… I say, what is this? You know, it’s like a joke.”
She also reiterated that because acting is not a lucrative business, roles are often given to amateurs who are willing to accept lower pay.
“But the second part is that I think there is no pay. The pay, the allowance, or what they get out of it, isn’t enough.”
“Now, for instance, if you are old, you are married, and you have children, you must have sufficient income to support them. But if you are acting today, your income or allowance will not cover your expenses.”
“So you will not act. So you leave it to the children to act. And that is why they are destroying the thing.”
According to her, Nigerians, however, are paid well. “The Nigerians are paid well. So if you see a Nigerian who will go further his course and come and play that role, you know that he’s being paid well…”
“But here in Ghana, there is no reward for whatever they do,” she added.