Award-winning Ghanaian musician Samini has expressed concerns about what he termed the meagre amount of money paid Ghanaian actors.
According to him, the current monies they receive does not reflect the dedication and effort they invest in their craft.
Speaking on the ‘Sincerely Accra’ podcast, Samini shared his personal experiences on movie sets.
He admitted that, despite his talent and previous experience in acting, he has not pursued the profession more seriously due to its physically and financially draining nature.
“It’s a very, very draining profession to be in,” he stated.
While expressing respect for the film industry, he emphasised that actors deserve better pay.
Samini pointed out the pay disparity between musicians and actors in the industry.
He disclosed that A-list musicians can take home between GH₵150,000 and GH₵250,000 for a full-band live performance, while lesser-known musicians earn GH₵15,000 to GH₵20,000 for a 30-minute show in Accra.
However, A-list actors often struggle to secure between GH₵10,000 to GH₵20,000 for an entire movie project, which can require up to three weeks of intense work on set.
“Some of the big names can push for up to GH₵25,000, but that even depends on who is hiring them. Meanwhile, lesser-known actors are sometimes paid as little as GH₵2,000 for weeks of work. It’s crazy, and something has to be done about it,” Samini stated.
Samini proposed a ‘tiered’ payment system to ensure fair compensation for actors.
He suggested that A-list actors should earn no less than GH₵50,000 per movie, B-list actors should receive at least GH₵30,000, and no mainstream actor should be paid below GH₵15,000 for any role.
According to him, such a structured approach would not only improve actors’ livelihoods but also enhance the overall quality of Ghanaian films.
He then urged producers, directors, and industry stakeholders to reevaluate how actors are paid.
“I think you can afford to pay them slightly more,” he said.
ID/EB
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