Veteran Ghanaian actress Rose Mensah, popularly known as Kyeiwaa, has revealed that financial struggles pushed her to leave Ghana for the United States in search of better opportunities, despite her years of experience and recognition in the movie industry.
The actress said her work in Ghanaian films was not providing enough income to meet her needs, leaving her in a difficult financial position even when several of her movies were being shown on television.
According to Kyeiwaa, the situation became so frustrating that she feared the emotional toll of remaining idle without a reliable source of income. She said finding work was necessary to avoid sinking into misery and despair.
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“I realised that if I don’t find something to do or somewhere to be, I will just be miserable. I might even die because of the misery and pain, and nobody will understand what I am going through,” she said.
She explained that she had never been comfortable staying at home without earning money and was willing to accept any legitimate job that could keep her financially active.
“Wherever there is work, I always go in for it because I know I don’t like being stranded. I will do whatever it takes to work,” she added.
Kyeiwaa also recounted an incident involving a trotro ride that made her reflect on the gap between her public image as an actress and her actual financial circumstances.
She said she once boarded a commercial vehicle while her movies were still appearing on television. Some passengers who recognised her were surprised that a familiar face in the entertainment industry was using public transport and competing for space like other commuters.
“When everybody saw me, they were asking how an actress could be taking trotro and fighting for space in a public vehicle. They felt that because I was an actress, I wasn’t supposed to be doing that. When I got home, I was very sad,” she recalled.
The experience, she said, further strengthened her resolve to seek opportunities outside Ghana, where she believed she could find alternative ways to support herself.
She maintained that no job was beneath her, particularly when her survival and financial independence were at stake.
“That was how I thought about travelling outside the country to look for greener pastures. I thought that even if I had to carry salt or do any other work, I would do it because I needed to survive,” she averred.
Her decision, however, attracted criticism after videos and reports emerged showing her undertaking jobs abroad, including carrying salt and washing chicken coops.
Kyeiwaa said some members of the public focused more on her status as an actress than the circumstances that had led her to take up those jobs. Rather than recognise her determination to earn an honest living, she said, some people resorted to ridiculing and embarrassing her on social media.
“At the end of the week, I was getting something from the work I was doing, but people didn’t see that side. They rather focused on the fact that I was an actress and questioned why I was doing those jobs. They said all sorts of things to embarrass and disgrace me online,” she said.
Although she initially chose not to respond to the criticism, the actress said she eventually decided to speak out to give people a better understanding of why she had accepted the jobs.
“If I were in Ghana working and making enough money for myself, I wouldn’t have been doing all those things abroad. I am not the only person going through difficulties. People should understand that I was trying to help myself,” she added.
She also urged the public to reconsider the way they treat people who take up jobs outside their usual professions or social standing simply to make ends meet.
Kyeiwaa questioned why anyone should be mocked for choosing hard work over financial dependence, particularly when earning a living in a foreign country comes with its own challenges.
The actress stressed that her relocation to the United States and willingness to undertake different forms of work were driven by the need to survive and improve her circumstances.
She further reminded the public that celebrity status should not be mistaken for financial comfort, noting that appearing regularly on television or enjoying recognition in the entertainment industry does not necessarily translate into wealth.
@glafinews “I Was Suffering While Acting” — Kumawood Actress Kyeiwaa Opens Up About Her Struggles in the Movie Industry. #kyeiwaa #trending #viral #fyp #glafinews ♬ original sound – GLAFINews
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