Ghanaian actress, Martha Ankomah, has spoken candidly about the harsh realities of colourism within the movie industry. She sadly disclosed that dark-skinned actors are often sidelined and pressured to bleach their skin to land roles.
At the 2025 edition of PCH Hangouts, held at ICGC New Wine Temple in East Legon, Ankomah recounted a moment early in her career when a producer bluntly criticized her natural complexion.
“Martha, you are too black… when we put the lights on you, you won’t shine,” she recalled being told.
Such experiences, she noted, are not isolated. According to Ankomah, the industry’s unspoken beauty standards have driven many of her peers to lighten their skin in pursuit of success.
“Because of that pressure, most of my colleagues started bleaching. That’s why some of them appear fair today. If you’ve been watching Ghanaian films for a while, you’ll know they weren’t always this complexion—they felt they had to maintain it.”
Ankomah, however, chose a different path. Resisting the industry’s pressures, she credited her strength to her faith, upbringing, and a sense of self-worth rooted in spiritual guidance.
READ ALSO: TGMA Board Clarifies Omission Of King Paluta’s ‘Makoma’ From Popular Song Of The Year Category
“I thank God for wisdom because the Bible says, ‘The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.’ I’m grateful for my parents—my father, may he rest in peace, was a devout Adventist, and my mother is a strict Pentecostal.”
Making a reflection on her career before the advent of social media, Martha Ankomah acknowledged the uphill battle many actors faced in getting recognized.
“It hasn’t been easy. It’s been the grace of God. When we started, there was no Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or Twitter. You were only known if your face made it onto a poster.”
The Ghanaian actress also reacted to longstanding rumors about actors engaging in questionable practices to climb the career ladder, emphasizing that such pressures aren’t unique to showbiz.
“I’m sure it happens in every workplace—people doing all sorts of things just to stay relevant. But it truly takes God’s grace to say no and stand firm.”
