Award-winning Ghanaian musician Samini has voiced his concerns over the inadequate pay actors receive in Ghana’s film industry. He believes the current pay structure fails to reflect the effort actors put into their craft.
Speaking candidly on a podcast, the celebrated musician shared his firsthand experience on movie sets, which opened his eyes to the financial struggles actors endure. While acknowledging his own talent for acting, Samini explained why he hasn’t pursued it further, the emotional, physical, and financial toll is simply too much.
“It’s a very, very draining profession to be in,” he said, stressing that his criticism comes from a place of respect for the industry.
Samini highlighted the stark disparity between musicians’ and actors’ earnings. He noted that top musicians can command between GHS 150,000 to GHS 250,000 for live performances, while even lesser-known artists earn GHS 15,000 to GHS 20,000 for a 30-minute set.
In contrast, A-list actors often struggle to secure GHS 10,000 to GHS 25,000 for an entire movie, sometimes working for up to three weeks. Lesser-known actors earn as little as GHS 2,000 for weeks of filming, a figure Samini called “unacceptable.”
“Some of the big names can push for maybe GHS 20,000 to GHS 25,000, but that even depends on who is hiring them,” he noted.
Samini is calling for a standardized pay structure in the film industry, akin to what exists in music. He suggested establishing a fair compensation system to ensure actors receive what they deserve. According to him, A-list actors should not be paid below GHS 50,000 per movie, while B-list actors should receive at least GHS 30,000. No mainstream actor, he believes, should earn less than GHS 15,000 per role.
“If for nothing at all, there should be some form of monitoring so they can control remuneration for actors,” he recommended.
Samini concluded by encouraging producers, directors, and stakeholders to reflect on their payment practices.
He emphasized that the hard work of actors should be acknowledged and compensated fairly, just like musicians in the entertainment industry.
Source: Edyspromotions.com
