Ghanaian filmmaker, Jones Agyemang, has criticised veteran Nigerian actor Kanayo O. Kanayo over his recent comments about Ghanaian actors.
Kanayo had questioned why some Ghanaian actors expect to receive fees similar to those paid to established Nigerian stars when working on joint Ghana-Nigeria productions.
However, Jones believes the comments were unnecessary and created the impression that Kanayo sees himself as more accomplished than his Ghanaian counterparts.
According to him, an actor’s years in the industry do not automatically make them better than others, as every actor has different strengths and areas where they perform best.
Taking a swipe at Kanayo’s acting career, Jones questioned the type of roles the Nigerian actor is best known for.
“Apart from juju, what better role can you play again?” Jones asked.
“What other character has he portrayed in his acting which has elicited emotions from viewers? Coming here doesn’t make you any superior. Focus on the job for which you were brought here. Acting comes in dimension, so he should stick to his niche of ritualistic roles,” he said.
Jones also questioned Kanayo’s comments about the availability of wealthy people and opportunities in Nigeria.
“If there are many rich men in Nigeria, why didn’t he accept their jobs and come to Ghana?” he asked.
He further urged Kanayo to show more respect to Ghanaian actors and avoid comparisons that could create unnecessary tension between the two countries’ film industries.
Jones believes that with Kanayo’s experience in the industry, he should be more careful with his public comments, especially while working in Ghana.
