Kwaku Manu has urged creatives in the entertainment industry to avoid seeking validation through awards.
According to him, awards have never added any real value to his career, and he does not consider them a measure of success.
Speaking candidly, Kwaku Manu emphasized that while recognition is nice, he has never prioritized awards in his journey as an actor.
“Since I started working, I have not considered awards because they’ve done nothing for me. It’s good if you’re acknowledged for your efforts and your name is mentioned.
But for someone to dress up, fly from Kumasi to Accra, and book hotel rooms for themselves and their team, what’s the point?” he questioned.
The actor stressed that beyond the prestige, most creatives do not benefit financially from these ceremonies.
He noted that despite promises of exposure and opportunities, many award-winning creatives do not experience tangible career advancements.
“It’s not like they’re even getting money from the awards. Forget about deals or opportunities,” he added.
Reflecting on his past experiences with the Ghana Movie Awards, Kwaku Manu did not hold back in expressing his disappointment.
He revealed that Kumawood actors were often overlooked in favor of their English-speaking counterparts.
“I went for the Ghana Movie Awards sometime back, and it was a waste of time for me.
Those of us who came from Kumasi, our names weren’t even mentioned. The hosts mentioned all the names of the English-speaking actors and ignored us,” he lamented.
The Collapse of the Ghana Movie Awards
The actor further pointed out that the relevance of award schemes largely depends on the participation of celebrities. He observed that when Kumawood actors stopped attending such events, the Ghana Movie Awards struggled to maintain its influence.
