KOK urges Ghanaian actors to mind their business over Nigerian actors’ pay

By Okonkwo Anthonia

Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has criticised what he described as a recurring dispute over the fees paid to Nigerian and Ghanaian actors working on the same movie productions.

Kanayo, popularly known as KOK, made the comments while in Ghana to feature in A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu), an upcoming movie produced by Ghanaian actor and filmmaker Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as Lil Win. Nigerian actors, including Kanayo, Patience Ozokwor, Mike Ezuruonye, Zubby Michael and Destiny Etiko, arrived in Ghana on September 30 to join the production.

Speaking to the Ghanaian media, Kanayo alleged that some Ghanaian actors had demanded to be paid the same fees as their Nigerian counterparts before agreeing to work on joint productions. He argued that actors should negotiate their fees based on their individual experience, reputation and value to a production rather than compare their earnings with those of other actors.

“I am KOK. I was among the founding fathers. You now wake up in Ghana. They call KOK to come and act in Ghana; you Ghanaian boy will now insist they pay you the same fees as me,” he said.

Kanayo stressed that there was a hierarchy in the movie industry and advised Ghanaian actors to focus on negotiating fees that reflected their individual worth.

“Negotiate what you want to be paid. Don’t equate yourself with me,” he added, urging Ghanaian actors not to concern themselves with how much Nigerian actors were paid.

Furthermore, the veteran actor alleged that the issue had resurfaced on the Ghanaian production he is currently working on, claiming that some actors had questioned the fees being paid to Nigerian performers. He said he was prepared to mention the names of those involved but was persuaded not to do so.

Kanayo’s comments come amid renewed collaboration between the Ghanaian and Nigerian film industries, with ‘’A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu)’ bringing established actors from both countries together in a production centred on Nzulezu, the historic stilt settlement in Ghana’s Western Region.